Penny B Oesterling

Penny B. Oesterling of Greenville, South Carolina went to be with her Lord on Thursday September 11, 2025 after a brief illness. She was born in Butler, Pennsylvania on May 14th, 1951 to George and Helen Walker. She had a brother Robert (Bob) who was seventeen years older. She and her family attended Grace Lutheran Church in Butler. Penny graduated from Butler High School in 1969 as salutatorian in a class of over 1000. It was in high school that she met her future husband, Robert Alan Oesterling. Penny attended one year at Clarion State College. They were married on March 26, 1971 at Grace Lutheran Church in Butler while Alan was attending college in Cincinnati. For the first year of their marriage Penny remained and worked in Butler while Alan commuted home on weekends from Cincinnati and Rochester, New York where he worked as part of a co-op program. Penny was able to join him for the final year of work and college. After graduation, they moved to Rochester where Alan took a permanent job with the Xerox Corporation. They spent 32 years in the Rochester area. Penny had prayed that the Lord would send someone to help her understand the Bible and His plan for her life. They rented a house in Williamson, NY, and it was here that the next-door neighbors, Bob and Jackie Cook, spent many hours explaining the gospel and discipling her. She and Alan began attending a small country church, Bible Baptist of Sodus, NY. Alan eventually followed her in accepting Jesus as Lord and they were discipled by friends, Barb and Jerry McKee. During this time the Lord blessed them with the birth of their first son Jason in 1974. They wanted more children but were told she couldn’t have more because of medical issues. They decided to try adopting and applied through an agency to adopt a girl from India. On the day they received final approval and were assigned a baby, Penny learned she was pregnant. Eleven month old Melinda arrived on Christmas Day of 1980 and Craig arrived on Easter Sunday of 1981. Their family was complete. Penny enjoyed being a faithful homemaker, wife, and mother, including homeschooling her two youngest children. She loved growing flowers and watching birds as evidences of God's beautiful creation. But she delighted most in her grandchildren. She taught Bible studies and had a burden to mentor younger women in the church. In the late 80's she had a car accident which limited her mobility, but she was a real prayer warrior while recovering and afterwards. Her children and grandchildren always knew they were bathed in Penny's prayers. After Alan retired they moved to Etowah, NC and eventually to Greenville, SC to live next to Craig and his family. They attended Christ Fellowship Northwest. She is survived by her husband Alan, son Jason (Janeen) and their five children (Caden, Luke, Elijah, Carson, and Sybil), daughter Melinda (Wayne) Marquess and their two children (Reuben and Leanna), son Craig (Sarah) and their two children (Carter and Harrison), as well as three nieces. She will be greatly missed by her family and all who knew and loved her, but we are rejoicing that she is free from the chronic pain that she knew in this life and we will see her again when we join her in heaven. Graveside services will be held on Friday, September 19, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Mountain View Memorial Park, 7 Duncan Rd, Travelers Rest, SC, 29690. A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, September 19, 2025 at 6:30 PM at Christ Fellowship Northwest Church, 9201 Old White Horse Rd, Greenville, SC 29617.

Penny B Oesterling

May 14, 1951 - September 11, 2025