Donald Murray Pendleton 1914 - 2005

FEATHERSTONE, PENDLETON, STOCK

Posted By: Connie Swearingen -Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/22/2019 at 13:22:40

Sioux City Journal
18 January 2005

Donald M. Pendleton, 90, retired judge of Sioux City died unexpectedly Saturday, Jan. 15, 2005, at his residence.

Memorial services will be 1 p.m. Wednesday at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel, with the Rev. Alva Hohl officiating. Private family graveside services will be held in Floyd Cemetery. There will be no visitation.

Donald Murray Pendleton was born March 30, 1914, in Sioux City, the son of Edmund and May (Featherstone) Pendleton. He attended Sioux City Public Schools, graduating from Central High School in 1931. He received his liberal arts and law degree from the University of Iowa. He was appointed judge of the Iowa District Court in 1965 and retired in 1982. Prior to this appointment, he served as city attorney of Sioux City in 1958 and 1959, assistant county attorney of Woodbury County in 1941, 1942 and 1955, and as chairman of the Sioux City Civil Service Commission in 1954.

Judge Pendleton practiced law in Sioux City and was a member of a pioneer Sioux City family. His grandfather, Isaac Pendleton, came to Sioux City in 1858 and was a lawyer as well as an Iowa District Court Judge.

Judge Pendleton and his father, Edmund Pendleton, practiced law together in Sioux City prior to World War II. Other later law partners were Arthur G. Hess, Don W. Thompson and Wayne G. Prichard. He served for four years during World War II as a special agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

He married Roberta Stock on Aug. 17, 1946, in Sioux City.

He was a member of First Congregational Church, the Masonic Orders and Woodbury County, Iowa State and the American Bar Associations. He was a former president of Woodbury County Bar Association (1952), the Sioux City Downtown Kiwanis Club (1953) and the Sioux City Chapter of American Interprofessional Institute (1959). He was a former board member of the University of Iowa Alumni Association, Woodbury County Tax Research Conference, Sioux City Art Center Association and Sioux City Museum and Historical Association. He was a former member of the Dakota Dunes Country Club and the Sioux City Boat Club.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Roberta; three daughters, Judith and her husband, Sean Caulfield of Charleston, S.C., Janet of Sioux City, Jean and her husband, Dan Boyer of Grinnell, Iowa; two sons, John and James of Seattle, Wash.; his grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, John E. Pendleton; and a sister, Margaret Rhynsburger.

Memorials may be directed to First Congregational United Church of Christ or the Sioux City Public Museum.