St. Clair County Obits

WALTER EARL MENDENHALL

Clinton Daily Democrat
18 October 2001
Walter Earl Mendenhall, the second son of Samuel and Florence Dunn Mendenhall, was born January 4, 1920 near Urich and died September 23, 2001 in Eureka, California. On June 16, 1942 he was married to Marjorie Smith, also of Urich. To this union one daughter, Marie Louise Mendenhall was born. Walter attended Hickory Grove and Maple Grove rural schools in White Oak Township and Urich High School, graduating with the Class of 1937.
Walter served in the United States Navy in the Pacific during World War II, attaining the rank of Chief Machinist Mate. After discharge from the Navy, he and his older brother Wilbur went to Eureka, California where they and their spouses were in the transportation business, operating a taxi-cab company, airport limousine service, rental car company and trucking operations. One of these businesses was a star mail route which Walter personally operated for 50 years, acquiring a reputation for always getting the mail through in spite of storms, floods and landslides.
He is survived by his spouse, Marjorie, Rohnert Park, California; his daughter Marie, and son-in-law, John Mead; and granddaughters, Jessica and Gillian, all of Columbus, Ohio. One niece, Beverly Matschowials of South Lake Tahoe, California, and a nephew, Tommy Mendenhall of Samoa, California also survive him. Walter was cremated and it is planned to return his ashes to Urich and lay them to rest in Urich Cemetery.