Joe Pendry

BOONVILLE - On Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2007, Joe Pendry of Pendry Road, Boonville, was called to heavenly rest. He was a patient at Yadkin Nursing Center in Yadkinville. He was born on Jan. 11, 1911, in Yadkin County to James Montgomery and Martha Lovenia Williard Pendry. Surviving are his wife of 72 years, Opal Hobson Pendry of the home; five children, Dot (Harvey) Wishon, Carroll (Hazel) Pendry, Janice Willard, David (Julie) Pendry of Boonville, and Ruth (Carl) Matthews of East Bend; 11 grandchildren, Gail (Greg) Davis, Jerry (Tina) Wishon, Jennifer (Darrell) Hobson, Stephanie (Barry) Byrd, Eric Willard, Marsha (Wesley) Caudle, Jason Matthews, Meghan, Hunter Huston, and Eden Pendry; two sisters, Nell Caudle and Fern (Moir) Hunter; three brothers, Howard Pendry, Ernest (Elsie) Pendry, and Benny (Rachel) Pendry, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Paul Pendry and Clint Pendry; four sisters, Minnie Matthews, Levie Reece, Dessie Sainz and Ruby Mathis, and a son-in-law, Foy Willard. Mr. Pendry was a self-employed farmer, an excavating contractor and owner and operator of bulldozing equipment. In 1940, he was instrumental in helping to get support to bring electricity to the rural areas of Surry, Yadkin, Stokes, Forsyth and Wilkes counties through the Surry-Yadkin Electric Membership Corporation at Dobson. In 1941, he was elected secretary of the Electric Membership Board and served in that capacity until he retired after 64 years of service. He was a member of the board of the Richmond Hill Law School Commission from the 1970's. As a member of the Law School Commission, he helped with the decisions about restoration of the Richmond M. Pearson house, the building of the Historic Nature Park, and the walking trails. He was also responsible for building the road from Lime Rock Road to the Pearson house, the Richmond Hill Law School site. Mr. Pendry served on the Law School Commission as long as his health permitted him to do so. He was a member of the Richmond Hill Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon and several other positions. He was a charter member of the Fall Creek Volunteer Fire Department. He served on the Board of Directors at Hoots Memorial Hospital for several years. Funeral services will be conducted at Richmond Hill Baptist Church at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 18, with the Rev. Will Hamric and the Rev. Dan Merritt officiating. The body will be placed in the church at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today, Jan. 17, at Huff Funeral Home in East Bend. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Richmond Hill Baptist Church Cemetery Fund or to the charity of the donor's choice. The family would like to express a special thanks to the Yadkin Nursing Center, the nurses, C.N.A.s on the 200 hall and to Hoots Memorial Hospital, Dr. Yuson and the nurses, for the wonderful love and care that was given to Joe and his family during his time of illness. We love and appreciate each of you. May God bless you.