Your dad was a wonderful man who spent his life in loving service to others, not just friends and family, but his neighborhood, community, and country. You and your family have every right to be proud of the great legacy he has left for all of you. His life was full and obviously lived out to God's glory.
I wish your family peace on this Independence Day, knowing that your dad has achieved true freedom from an earthly body that could no longer contain the great spirit that resided inside.
Living God's blessings with grace and dignity~ Laura
M40/H36 T16/M14 4K B2/08 S4/08 current
Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. I Corinthians 13:7
Mike-- It seems that your father was gifted with at least 5 life-times, rolled into one extraordinary experience while here with us. I will echo Ian and Laura's sentiments, and send peace, hugs and prayers to your heart, and to those who had the chance to know this special man. --Donna
This is the first time I have read anything posted by you. I am sorry to hear of your father's passing. I work on a Neuro ICU floor and understand fully what you have gone through. I wish you nothing but peace in your heart and mind.
"It is excruciating pain. It is the pain of separation, the pain of loss, the pain of dreams and expectations unrealized. It is the loss and death of a mirage."
Thank you so much for sharing your dad's phenominal life with us here. In reading about his loving service to his country, community, and family I feel like I've grown to know him. He lead an inspirational life and I see now where your vim and vigor come from.
Blessings to you and your family.
Michelle
T19 M15 S19 XH47 M43 bomb12/4/07 PA5/07 S12/26/07 D final 11/17/08 Back together with no defined R 05/2010 confused....to say the least!!!
Thank you for sharing. Your dad had a life well lived. It is not easy to lose him but you will have wonderful memories no doubt. My thoughts and prayers continue for you and your family.
an article in our local paper about the passing of my dad..
Local sports scene loses icon in Pendleton Published Saturday, July 4 2009 - (0) Comments The local sports scene paused over the weekend to shed a tear.
Longtime constable Jim Pendleton’s death created a void, especially for high school basketball fans.
For many years, Pendleton was a fixture at games. Unless there happened to be a spectator overflow, he’d usually be sitting inside the gymnasium near the entrance.
Over the last 30 years he had focused primarily on the programs at Lynn View, Sullivan North and Sullivan South. However, when there was a big game being played anywhere between Knoxville and Clintwood, it wouldn’t be uncommon to see Pendleton there.
Pendleton’s love for basketball began in Scott County, Va., where he played forward/center for Midway High School on an outdoor court. This passion for the game was carried over to his days in military service when he got to participate in indoor facilities while serving his country in World War II and the Korean Conflict.
His purpose in attending games was two-fold.
He was officially a security officer for immediate-area events where game action didn’t get all of his attention. You could see his head turning and eyes rolling throughout as he watched for rowdiness in the crowd.
Pendleton devoted his full attention to the enjoyment of the game action at out-of-town events. School officials throughout Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia expressed their appreciation when he walked through the door in uniform because it provided extra security, free of charge.
Despite a difference of some 20 years in their ages, Pendleton and sidekick Charlie Bill Phillips traveled countless miles in search of quality teams. Both were Eastman Chemical Co. retirees.
Unless Pendleton had a scheduling conflict, they went together sharing expenses — with Phillips doing the driving. It wasn’t unusual to see them at tournaments in any of 20 states taking in the action.
Their favorite stop for a pregame meal was the Golden Corral Buffet & Grill in Kingsport. It became a ritual, the two sitting down for a powwow about the forthcoming game while warming up with some nourishment.
Pendleton and Phillips each carried a list of the games they’d seen in a particular season and always posted the final scores. There was a friendly contest ongoing between them to determine which had been attending the most games.
Pendleton often hinted that Phillips must have been counting Boys Club and other developmental-league games. Phillips, chuckling at the notion, insisted that Pendleton had to be including drive-by competition that was in progress along the route he was taking to the night’s destination.
Phillips died several years ago of a massive heart attack and Pendleton had to cut back on the number of games he attended. He spent most of his time watching Sullivan South, where his son Mark is head coach.
Mark played at King College and it was there that the elder Pendleton acquired a taste for small college basketball. He continued to follow the Blue Tornado.
Hunter Wright Stadium was another place the constable frequented. He sat inside the corridor, highly visible, offering security and analyzing the young professional baseball talent.
Pendleton was an amateur baseball coach who spent much of his spare time helping youngsters learn fundamentals and develop their skills. He had a big heart and truly enjoyed being around young people.
Tall and strong, he was a stern law-enforcement officer who was regarded as a public servant of the entire Kingsport community. That stemmed from his days as a military policeman in the U.S. Army.
“Jim was a good fellow,’’ said James Keesling, retired Kingsport police chief. “He sure helped our department out a lot.’’
A testament to his popularity was the fact he repeatedly got re-elected to the 12th Civil District constable’s post in Sullivan County.
Hundreds of mourners — among them police officers, coaches, school administrators and others who considered him a friend — filed into Higher Ground Baptist Church Saturday for his viewing and funeral service.
Jim Pendleton, 84, loomed large in life and will be sorely missed.
I feel for your loss Mike and I know that there is no prep that can be done or I would be doing it for the eventual loss of my own P's.
I am sure you will carry on and embody the family character and dare I say legacy (but judging by the shared news clip it is just that). I know you are missing him and will continue to as it sounds like he lived well and imparted a lot to his son's and family. Continue to make him proud as he peers down from above.
I feel for your loss Mike and I know that there is no prep that can be done or I would be doing it for the eventual loss of my own P's.
well, as morbid as this sounds I have been preparing myself for years..my dad was 84...years ago I started imagining how he would die, how his wake would be..how he would be laid to rest.....
and i think that has helped me now..
plus before dad left here he left awesome testimony which makes it easier..
I hate it for my younger sister, who was there all night the night he passed..my younger brother who is guilt ridden because he returned from a beach vacation the day before dad died...and my older sister who was his chief caretaker...
my mom seems ok..and that may be because her and I are alot alike...realist...he was not going to get any better..unlerss there was a miracle...he was only going to continually get worse..
