Ralph L. Mendenhall (2012)

MENDENHALL, BENNETT, SCHARDEIN, OWENS

Posted By: Shirley Keating (email)
Date: 10/19/2012 at 22:15:39

Johnson Family Funeral Home, Earlham, Iowa

Ralph L. Mendenhall
Born in Newton, Iowa on Aug. 15, 1936
Departed on Oct. 16, 2012 and resided in Indianola, IA.

Visitation: Friday, Oct. 19, 2012
Service: Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012
Cemetery: Earlham Cemetery

Ralph Mendenhall, 76, of Indianola, passed away Tuesday, October 16th 2012 at the Indianola Good Samaritan Society. Visitation will be held Friday, October 19, from 1-7 pm with the family present from 5-7 pm at the Johnson Family Funeral Home in Earlham. Funeral service will be held Saturday, October 20 at 1 pm at the Johnson Family Funeral Home in Earlham. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Ralph Mendenhall Memorial Fund, in care of Johnson Family Funeral Home, Box 171, Earlham, IA 50072. Online condolences may be left at www.johnsonfamilyfuneralhome.com .

Ralph was born in Newton, IA on August 15, 1936 to Lester and Gladys Bennett Mendenhall. After graduating from Newton High School in 1954 he worked a few years for Maytag. He attended Iowa State University in Ames, IA and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agronomy and a Master of Science degree in Soil Formation and Morphology. He began his career as a Soil Scientist with the Iowa Soil Conservation Service. Following that position he was in Amman, Jordan for two years as Area Director of the Near East Foundation. After returning to Iowa he was assigned Soil Scientist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. On May 26, 1974 he was united in marriage to Barbara Schardein. In 1974 he became Research Associate for VA Tech in Chesterfield County, VA and left that position in 2003. He was a charter member and state president of VA Association of Professional Soil Scientists, board chairman for Certification of Professional Soil Scientists. In his spare time Ralph enjoyed being in nature and taking hikes. He also enjoyed woodworking and poetry.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sister and numerous aunts and uncles.

Ralph is survived by his wife Barbara of Indianola; daughter Nacia Owens and husband of Holly Springs, North Carolina; two step-grandchildren, mother-in-law Donna Schardein of Indianola and a host of other family members and friends all of whom will miss him dearly.