Alice Penelope Farnam, 81 of Ashland passed from this life, early Friday morning, June 5, 2026, at Riverside Hospital in Columbus.
She was born on April 15, 1945, in Odessa, Texas, the daughter of the late Richard L. and Harriette (nee Heffelfinger) Sloan.
Penny graduated from Ashland High School, Class of 1963; and later went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Brenau College in 1987.
She was employed at Ashland City Schools, as a secretary and once she earned her degree, worked as registered nurse in Northeast, Georgia and St. Joseph Hospital in Tampa Florida. Upon her return to Ashland in 1993, she owned and operated Grumpy’s Coffee Shop on Claremont Avenue for more than 10 years.
Penny married Allen Wayne Farnam on February 10, 2001.
She was a devoted member of Heritage Baptist Church and a former member of Park Street Brethren Church.
Throughout her life, Penny has always remained active and enjoyed volunteering at the Ashland Pregnancy Center and helping at the Ashland Kroc Center. She loved her weekly silver sneakers class and her euchre and bible study groups.
She is survived by her children who she loved deeply, Kim (Dan) Phillip of Ashland and John (Sallie) Usher of Hickory, North Carolina; five grandchildren, Bailey (Kirby) Mathias, Rachel (Jared) Province, Sarah (Jordan) Anthony, Brett (Moriah) Phillip, Johnny (Taylor) Usher; 10 great-grandchildren, Giavanna, Kellan, Ronan, Liza, Will, Jake, Emma, Duke, Dylan, and Arlo; a half sister, Lori (Ed) Borrelli of North Florida, and she leaves behind her former spouse, Rod Usher, with whom she shared many years and two children.
In addition to her parents, Penny is preceded in death by her loving husband of 18 years, Al Farnam who passed away on April 15, 2019.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. in the Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home with Reverend Ben Roby presiding. Interment will follow in the Ashland Cemetery. Family and friends may visit one hour prior to the service from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm in the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Ashland Pregnancy Center or Heritage Baptist Church.
For those who may not be able to attend, online condolences may be shared on the funeral homes website at denbowfh.com.
Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home & Crematory is handling the arrangements.
Funeral Home: Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home
Website: denbowfh.com