Great Sage of the Sea
Posts: 602
Location: Visalia, Ca. | Subject: R.I.P. - Barbara L. "Penny" Niedhamer
The Shipmates and Ladies of USSV WWII Fresno Chapter and USSVI Wahoo Base mourn the passing of Barbara Lorraine “Penny” Niedhamer. She was the widow of Bill Niedhamer, QMC(SS) USN Retired, one of the members of the USSV WW II and the first president of the Fresno Chapter. She was Australian by birth and married Bill in 1942 in Perth. He passed away in 1990. During the war, he served on the S-37, S-41, Perch (SS 176) and the Sturgeon (SS 187). After the war he served on several boats, including the U-3008, Barracuda (K-1) and Sablefish (SS 303).
Barbara Lorraine "Penny" Niedhamer
Barbara was born in Katanning, Western Australia, on November 11, 1918, to John and Barbara Longmire. She passed away on Sunday, June 29, 2008, at the age of 89. In 1942, she married William Patrick Niedhamer, a submarine sailor with the U.S. Navy. "A penny for your thoughts" comments by Bill gave her the nickname Penny. After the war, they lived in Connecticut, returned to Western Australia in 1957 when Bill retired from the Navy, then settled in Fresno in 1971. A master teacher of Ikebana (Japanese flower arranging), Penny taught for over 30 years in Fresno. She served several terms as president of the Fresno Chapter of Ikebana International and was instrumental in organizing annual Ikebana exhibits at the Fresno County Fair. She and Bill were both active in Fleet Reserve and the U.S. Submarine Veterans of World War II. They also volunteered at the Veteran's Administration Hospital, all of which she continued after his death in 1990. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill Niedhamer; and her sister, Aileen Timms. She is survived by her brother, Robert Longmire of Australia; sons, Phillip and John; her grandsons, Jack and his wife Courtney, and Nicholas; and their mother, Brenda. Visitation will be held at Palm Memorial Chapel on Wednesday, July 2, 2008, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. A Graveside Service will be held at Fresno Memorial Gardens on Thursday, July 3, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. Remembrances may be made to Hinds Hospice, 1616 W. Shaw, Suite C-1, Fresno, Ca., 93711. PALM MEMORIAL CHAPEL 2983 Tulare Street Fresno, Ca. (559) 233-7267
Published in the Fresno Bee on 7/1/2008.
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R.I.P. - Barbara L. "Penny" Niedhamer
