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William Richard Pendleton Obituary

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William Richard Pendleton

Kent, WA

October 7, 1923 - November 23, 2020

William Richard Pendleton Obituary

On November 23, 2020 William Richard Pendleton, known throughout his life as Dick, devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather, passed away at the age of 97 in Auburn, Washington. He was born on October 7, 1923 in Ogden, Utah, the eldest child of William Oral Pendleton and Josie Zillnorah Flitton. Dad graduated from Tooele High School in 1940. He worked for the railroad the summer after high school and then moved to Logan, Utah to attend Utah State University where he studied industrial arts. Dad met his future wife, Evelyn Hoefler, while he was attending Utah State. They dated until he reported to boot camp after joining the Navy in 1941. They corresponded by letter for almost 4 years while he served in the South Pacific until the end of World War II in 1945. Dad returned to the States on May 6, 1945 arriving in San Diego, California. He immediately caught a train to Ogden, Utah where he and Evelyn continued their courtship. They were married 24 days later, on May 31, 1945 in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Salt Lake City temple. After his discharge from the Navy, they returned to Logan where Dad studied engineering at Utah State on the GI bill and enrolled in the Air Force ROTC. Dad graduated with a degree in engineering in June of 1949 and they moved to Salt Lake City where he took a job with Chicago Bridge and Iron. A short time later they moved to Vernon, Utah to help his father on his dairy farm. Soon after he was called up into active duty by the Air Force because of the Korean War. He was honorably discharged from the Air Force in September of 1953. Dad then took a job with Imco and moved to the Sugarhouse neighborhood in Salt Lake City, Utah. Within a year Dad was offered more money by the Boeing Company and they moved to Seattle in February of 1954. The plan was to move to the northwest, save some money and return to Utah in two years. That move back never occurred. They eventually settled in Renton, Washington in February of 1959, where he resided until his death. Dad worked as an engineer for Boeing until he retired in 1989. Throughout his entire life he was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he gave freely of his time and financial means. He served as a scoutmaster, a counselor in the bishopric, the first Bishop of the Renton 3rd Ward, and as a member of the High Council. He also served as counselor in the Renton Stake Presidency for 10 years and then as the Stake President for 9 years. Dad loved sports and working with the youth. One of his favorite assignments was when he served for many years as the LDS Renton Stake Athletic Director, where he was well known for his pre-game devotional messages. After he retired, he was called as an LDS Church Service missionary in the LDS Family History Center, another mission as an employment counselor in the LDS Church Employment Office, and a third mission at the LDS Bishop’s Storehouse, which he completed in 2011. His influence has touched many lives over the years. He was preceded in death by his parents, his stepmother, a brother and sister, a half-brother, and his wife Evelyn, who passed on in March of 2013. He is survived by his 5 children: Brent (Jeanne) of Riverside, California, Kent (Linda) of Provo, Utah, Brian (Kay) of Ivins, Utah, Jolyn Goldade (Jim), of Chesapeake, Virginia, Rob (Tawni), of Auburn, Washington, 23 grandchildren and 38 great grandchildren. While we will miss him more than words can say, we are comforted that he is with his sweet wife and relatives that have gone on before him and we take great knowledge and comfort that Families can be Together Forever. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Dec. 5th, 2020 at 10:00 AM via a live YouTube stream. Interment will be at The Tahoma National Cemetery, Kent, Washington, December 7th, 2020.

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