Penny (VanderWall) Seymour passed away peacefully in the early morning of Thursday, August 13, 2026 at her Grand Rapids home, surrounded by her loving family, after a brief battle with cancer.

Penny was born on July 21, 1943 in Hart, Michigan, to Bernard J. and Jeanne M. VanderWall. Penny always delighted in her summer birthday, and considered the best celebration to be a day at the beach in her beloved Pentwater, on the shores of Lake Michigan, where generations of her family had summer homes.

After graduating from Grand Rapids Christian High School in 1961, Penny began her collegiate career at Michigan State University. Her three daughters and three of her grandchildren later followed in her footsteps. Though she'd claim not to be a person moved by the sentimental, family members clearly remember Penny getting choked up and loudly (and slightly off-key) singing "MSU, We Love Thy Shadows" during her many trips to East Lansing over the years to visit her children and grandchildren on campus.

Penny married W. Schuyler Seymour, Jr. on January 31, 1964 in Brighton, MI. Together, they raised their family in Grand Blanc, MI, where both were involved in volunteering for various causes within the school system. They made their second home in Pentwater, fulfilling their dream of owning a home there in 1973, when they purchased a fixer upper right down the road from Penny's favorite beach. Many hours, days, and years, were spent fixing up this home. Fifty-three years later, Penny and Sky still spent part of this summer at that same family cottage.

Penny was a champion for literacy, always taking her girls to Grand Blanc's library, where they'd leave with stacks of books each week. Penny later channeled that passion into a new career, completing a degree at U of M-Flint in psychology in 1993, and subsequently also completing the highest level of an extensive training program through the Orton-Gillingham Association. Penny then became an instructor, and later moving up to the role of director, at Michigan Dyslexia Institute in Flint. There, Penny worked with students of all ages, children to adults, whose own abilities to read successfully were challenged by dyslexia. In this role, she made many friends and changed the lives of many who had had lifelong reading struggles.

Penny is survived by her husband, Sky, her daughters Kristin Seymour Morath (Carl), Allison Seymour Ascher (Andy), and Holly Seymour Jasinski (Christopher). She is additionally survived by her grandchildren, Jake Morath (Missie), Luke Morath, Emma Morath (Ryan Conley), Ryan Ascher, Evan Jasinski (Bianca), and Emilia Jasinski, as well as by her brother Jack VanderWall, her sister-in-law and close friend Christine VanderWall, and several nieces and nephews. Penny also leaves behind dear friends Anne and Larry Konopka.

Penny was preceded in death by her parents, Bernard and Jeanne VanderWall, her beloved friend and sister-in-law Leslie Ansted, her niece Ashley Elizabeth Ansted, and nephew Peter Soet.

Per Penny's wishes, a memorial service will be held in Pentwater, Michigan, at a later date.

Memorial Contributions may be made to Michigan Dyslexia Institute Central Headquarters, 532 E. Shiawassee St., Lansing, Michigan 48912 or https://dyslexia.net to provide scholarships for current and future students.

Penny's warmth, kindness, joy, and love of dogs (both well and not-so-well behaved) touched many lives. She will be missed.