Benjamin Irvin Pendleton

1929 - 2026

Benjamin Irvin Pendleton 96 of Greenwood passed away January 9, 2026, at Life's Journey Hospice in Avon, Indiana. He was born November 2, 1929, in Absher, Kentucky to the late Benjamin & Emma (Hardwick) Pendleton.

Ben attended a one room schoolhouse in Absher Kentucky and worked on the family farm until the age of 17.

He met Dollie in 1948 while working for Lancaster Lumbar Co. in Sparksville, Kentucky. They married on September 10, 1951in Cane Valley Kentucky and moved to Greenwood Indiana where he had a job with Arvin Industries. He and Dollie were always together in all parts of life for 69 years.

In 1952 He went to work for Allison Transmission in Indianapolis, Indiana retiring in1991 after 39 years. During any work furlough he enjoyed helping others with painting and even helped build the neighbor's home.

Ben enjoyed keeping his home and lawn excellently maintained, gardening with Dollie, reading the Adair County Newspaper, watching wrestling, fishing, dirt track races, NASCAR, Indy Car racing, old movies and Westerns, watching daily world news, attending sporting or school events with the children.

He loved Dollie's home cooked meals, preferably beans, potatoes and corn bread. However, he also liked White Castle Sliders, Mrs. Curl vanilla malts, scenic drives to Columbus Indiana for Captain D's fish dinner, fresh brewed coffee with a cookie, Whit's Inn biscuits and gravy or a "Donut Tree" on his birthday, Dr. Pepper and pizza with the great grandsons to talk about life, spending time with friends and family and hearing his great granddaughter sing, sitting on his front patio with anyone who wanted to visit, and he loved Cherry Tobacco in his pipe.

Ben and Dollie traveled a lot to visit family and went to 49 states. They also attended the World's Fair in New York City in 1964 and 1965. The extensive garden Ben and Dollie maintained for over 50 years was a labor of love for them both and fed them well.

When asked his greatest accomplishment and biggest regret he said his personal accomplishment was he never took a loan, and he never paid interest. "If you want it, you work for it, it will mean something."

His one regret was taking a second vacation to Alaska and never making it to Hawaii with Dollie.

He is survived by his daughter in law, Kathy Pendleton; grandchildren, Susan Pendleton Ladd and Amy Pendleton; great grandchildren, Conner Ladd, Isabelle Squier, Jacob Squier, Janelle Welch and Korbyn Trimmer and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Ben was preceded in death by his wife, Dollie Marie Pendleton; son, Carl "Butch" Wayne Pendleton and his siblings, Omer Pendleton, Lorena Weatherford, Pairlee Montgomery, Tyler Pendleton, Dellie Marie Pendleton, Eula Brockman, Wilmer Pendleton, Lois Curry and Charles "Rollin" Pendleton.

Visitation will be on Saturday, January 24th from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm with a service beginning at 1:00 pm at Wilson St. Pierre Funeral Service & Crematory, Greenwood Chapel 481 W. Main Street Greenwood, Indiana.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to pancreatic cancer research.

You are invited to read Ben's obituary at www.stpierrefamilyfuneral.com, where you may sign the guest book and leave a personal message for the family.