George Lloyd Penrose Obituary

George Lloyd Penrose passed away unexpectedly on June 21, 2025, at the age of 77 while enjoying a beach vacation at Sunset Beach, North Carolina. He was born on May 14, 1948, in Luna, St. Mary Parish, Jamaica, West Indies, just after his twin brother, Cecil, and was the youngest child of Caroline (Harper) and Charles Penrose.

George had an exceptional memory and consistently ranked at the top of his class throughout both primary and secondary schools. When he came of age, he joined the Jamaican Defense Force (JDF), where he served for six years in multiple roles, including medic, barber, and bartender. During his service, he was stationed in New Castle, where he proudly tended to a wound for Michael Manley, who was on vacation at the time and would soon become Prime Minister of Jamaica. For his service, George received a handwritten letter of recommendation. During this period, he formed meaningful relationships with Jean Webber, Mavis Danver, and Yvonne Cockburn, and welcomed his eldest children—Clint, Arleen, and Simone.

After receiving an honorable discharge from the military in 1972, George secured a lucrative position as an operator at the Bauxite Mine near Mandeville. He mastered all six job functions at the facility, making him an exceptionally valuable employee. Alongside his work at the mine, George nurtured his entrepreneurial spirit through several side ventures, including transporting co-workers, purchasing a truck for business use, and raising livestock. Success both at the mine and in business enabled him to purchase a large home with an orchard and ample land for future opportunities. During this time, he married Eloise McIntyre, and from their union, two children were born: Thalia and Farel “Andre” (whom George affectionally called “Foot”).

In 1978, George moved to the United States and settled in Chicago, Illinois, where he lived with his sister, Claire July, and worked alongside her husband as an auto mechanic. Eager to embrace the opportunities America had to offer, George was disheartened to discover that his options were significantly limited without proper immigration status. He often recounted, with humor and vivid detail, his many close calls with the police since he didn’t have legal documentation and was not able to obtain a driver’s license. Despite the challenges, George took great pride in mastering the craft of auto repair over the years. During this time, he formed a relationship with Cynthia Smith, and together they welcomed a daughter, Cyndie.

In 1987, George relocated to the Houston, Texas area. By this time, he had gained US citizenship, which allowed him to sponsor Thalia and Farel to live in the US. George eventually opened and operated his own auto repair shop. During this period, he developed a relationship with Pam Buckman, grew close to her family, and together they welcomed his youngest daughter, Krishana. After closing his shop, George moved to California, where he continued working in the auto mechanic field with his nephews, Andrew and Rohan July. He returned to Chicago in 2002, rekindled his relationship with Cynthia Smith, and the two were later married.

Following Cynthia’s passing in 2014, George spent some time in Florida, where he lived with his daughter, Thalia, and her family. This afforded him the opportunity to mentor his grandsons and spend time with his son Andre. He also traveled to New Jersey on several occasions, where he lived with his niece, Patrica Penrose, and reconnected with his sister, Edna Fulton, along with many nieces, nephews, and longtime friends. George also spent an extended period in Houston, Texas, which was marked by moments shared with two of his children, Clint and Krishana, their families and many other friends. In 2021, he returned to Chicago, Illinois, where he settled with his daughter, Cyndie and her family.

Throughout his travels, George always managed to cultivate close relationships and was known for his willingness to help family, friends, and strangers. He wanted everyone around him to have a better life. To this end, he freely gave labor and advice, and prioritized solving problems for others over his own wellbeing. You can expect most people in George’s life to have at least one story regarding the time when he helped them out of car trouble or solved a problem they forget they had.

The last four years of George’s life were filled with meaningful experiences, travel, and reconnections with loved ones. He made several trips to Jamaica, where he revisited the stories and adventures of his youth, especially during cherished visits with his twin brother, Cecil. George truly lived life to the fullest attending concerts by a variety of artists, exploring new cities, and trying new foods. His final days were spent joyfully at the beach with his girlfriend, Paulette Foreste—his beloved travel companion on many of his recent adventures—and her family.

George was preceded in death by his parents – Caroline [Harper] and Charles Penrose; siblings – Linton “Proff”, Ivy “Claire”, Clarence, Edwin “Lenny”, and Edna; and wife – Cynthia Smith. Goerge leaves to mourn his loss, his twin brother Cecil Penrose (Ruthlyn); his children – Clint Penrose (Christina), Arleen Whittaker (David), Simone Penrose, Thalia Penrose (Cecil), Farel “Andre” (Elaine), Krishana Penrose, and Cyndie Penrose; his grandchildren – Tyson Penrose, Tavin Lloyd, Jahvaughn Jones, Gabrielle Whittaker, Josiah Penrose, Zachary Whittaker, and Chase Christman; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, and friends.

Send to someone

Share this obituary with others

https://everloved.com/life-of/george-penrose/obituary/

Copy