J. Harlard MENDENHALL Family

MENDENHALL, HANNON, CRAFT, MCELHINEY, SHERIDAN, BARKER

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 8/26/2011 at 00:55:27

MALOY, IOWA CENTENNIAL HISTORY: 1887 - 1987
Family & Biographical Pages

HARLARD MENDENHALL FAMILY

J. Harlard MENDENHALL and wife Edna, came to Maloy in 1933-34. Their children Ivor, Valnetta, Victor and Loris entered school classes that year. The youngest child, Elvis, was not old enough for school. Harlard was the school custodian and the family lived on Highway #2 west of HANNONS'. They moved away in 1939 after Vainetta, Ivor and Vic had graduated from high school. Loris was in the seventh grade and Elvis in the second.

Mrs. MENDENHALL now lives in Lenox. Harlard is deceased, having died in 1951.

Valnetta married Alf (Red) CRAFT from Delphos. She lived in Oakdale, California since 1940. Alf was in business there many years; he passed away a few years ago. Val is in good health and lives on the golf course. She has two daughters, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Ivor went to California in 1940 and has always lived there except for 3 1/2 years in the service. He and his wife, Betty, a native of Oakdale, California, were married in 1942. They lived there a few years and then moved to Monteca in 1948. Ivor worked in Stockton. While there he went back to college at night and spent five years getting a degree in accounting and business administration. It proved to have been worthwhile. Betty then returned to classes and got her teaching certificate.

In 1958 they moved to San Jose and Ivor worked there and in San Francisco as general credit manager for three different companies. He traveled a great deal, mostly in the Western states. This he enjoyed very much as it involved consulting with customers and with all kinds of people under all conditions.

Ivor retired in 1984 and in six months was called back to help in San Francisco for two months. It lasted ten months as part-time. He is not sure when he will be fully retired. But in his spare time he plays golf, does woodworking and refinishes furniture. They have moved back to Oakdale and have joined the country club where he expects to play more golf and less of everything else. They have many friends there and Valnetta will enjoy having them near.

Three children - two girls and one boy have produced seven grandchildren to round out their family. They feel fortunate to have them all close. Their son is a general contractor in Redding, California the oldest daughter has a good position with Payless Drug and lives in Salinas, California. The youngest daughter is in Sacramento in college studying to become a teacher.

Vic and Helen McELHINEY were married in 1940. They both worked at the State Hospital in Clarinda until 1942. Helen was a secretary and Vic a supervisor on the male side of the hospital. After Vic's tour with the army, they bought a grocery store and locker in Sharpsburg, Iowa. This is where they were for eight eyars. In 1953 Vic started working for Safeway Stores, Inc. in Red Oak. He was transferred to Missouri Valley as meat market manager, and from there to Fort Dodge where he remained until 1979 when he was force to retire because of ill health. He passed away in 1984.

In 1950 Vic and Helen adopted a son who was the apple of their eyes and still is her rock since Vic's death. She writes, "I don't know what I would do without him and his family." He works for Carnation Pet Foods in Fort Dodge and has a Mobile Music and Light Show which keeps him very busy playing for schools and weddings.

Helen continues to live in Fort Dodge and does some traveling with tours.

Loris MENDENHALL married Jerry SHERIDAN, founder of Sheridan Egg Breaking Company in Lenox. They also live there.

Elvis and some of his family also live near Lenox.

NOTES: J. Harlard MENDENHALL was born in 1898, and died in 1952. Edna M. MENDENHALL was born July 21 1897, and died in December of 1969. They were interred at Fairview Cemetery, Lenox, Iowa.

Ivor E. MENDENHALL served with the Army Corps as a TSgt. during World War II. He was in charge of the budget and fiscal department at army bases located in Washington and Nebraska.

Valnetta "Val" (MENDENHALL) CRAFT was born at Hatfield, Missouri January 24, 1918, and died July 23, 1999. She was interred at Oaklawn Memorial Park, Oakdale, California.

Victor Hale "Vic" MENDENHALL was born March 5, 1920 in Allendale, Missouri, and died August 3, 1984 in Fort Dodge, Iowa. He married October 12, 1940, Papillion, Nebraska Helen McELHINEY, the daughter of Vern and Fern McELHINEY. Vic served as a 3rd Class pharmacist's mate with the U.S. Navy during World War II.

Loris Dean (MENDENHALL) SHERIDAN was born March 8, 1927, and died October 2, 2004. She married February 17, 1950 Gerald D. SHERIDAN. Gerald was born in 1926, and died in 1990. They were interred at North Fairview Cemetery, Lenox, Iowa.

Elvis Everett "Mendy" MENDENHALL was born in Allendale, Missouri October 11. 1930, and died June 9, 2009. He married Justine BARKER.

SOURCE: Maloy, Iowa Centennial History: 1887 - 1987 Pp. 144-45.

Courtesy of Mount Ayr Public Library

Transcription and Note by Sharon R. Becker, August of 2011

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