John Riley Mendenhall (1932)
BLISS, MENDENHALL, SPARKS
Posted By: Pat Hochstetler
Date: 11/19/2011 at 15:27:37
Earlham Echo
Erlaham, Iowa
Thursday, January 7, 1932
Page 1Mr. J. R. Mendenhall Passes Away While Returning From Rochester
The community was saddened late Saturday to learn that J. R. Mendenhall had passed away at Albert Lea, Minn., while enroute with Mrs. Mendenhall to their home here. They had been to Rochester for consultation concerning an ailment which had given Mr. Mendenhall distress for several years. His condition had not been considered serious.
Mr. and Mrs. Mendenhall stopped for lunch at the Albert Lea hotel and intended to visit her sister and brother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. H. S. Bliss at Kensett, Iowa. After lunch they entered a bus bound for Kensett and had reached the Albert Lea city limits when Mr. Mendenhall complained of severe pains in his chest. The bus immediately turned back toward the hotel while a nurse who was a passenger on the bus did what she could to make Mr. Mendenhall comfortable. He had lost consciousness and a doctor who was a guest of the hotel pronounced him dead after a brief examination.
Mrs. Mendenhall proceeded to Kensett Saturday afternoon where she remained with her sister until Sunday when the body was brought to Des Moines, being met there by the Welch & Benson ambulance and a number of sympathetic friends from Earlham. Owing to the illness of her husband, Mrs. Bliss was unable to return with her sister and Mrs. Mendenhall was accompanied here by Miss Anna Knudson who remained until Thursday morning.
Funeral services for Mr. Mendenhall were held Tuesday afternoon from the Presbyterian Church, inclement weather preventing them being conducted at his home as planned. The Rev. Mr. Porter was in charge with the Masonic Lodge performing its commitment ceremony. Pallbearers were members of the local Order, and burial was in Earlham cemetery.
Mr. Mendenhall was 73 years of age and had lived the greater part of his active life in this community. With his younger brother and widowed mother, he came to Earlham more than 40 years ago, engaging in pharmacy, his chosen profession. Later he spent some time looking after business and banking interests at Menlo and Harlan. On November 3, 1899, he was united in marriage to Miss Mayme Sparks who remained his faithful companion to the last.
Mr. Mendenhall returned to Earlham about 25 years ago to operate a drug store, leaving it shortly thereafter to engage in farming because of his health. He retired from active life more than a decade ago, though his careful judgment continued to be felt in banking and financial circles. He united with the Presbyterian Church at Menlo, transferring his membership to Earlham where he became an important factor in all its spiritual and benevolent works.
Quiet, unassuming, and thoughtful, Mr. Mendenhall will be greatly missed by multitudes who knew him, all of whom felt it a privilege to claim his friendship in business relations as well as in private life. Mr. Mendenhall practiced the golden rule, without ostentation settling as example of high ideals. His passing leaves the sorrow of loss, but not the sorrow of regret.
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