Danny Lee Wendell Jr.

Danny L. Wendell Jr. was born in Charleston, WV on October 11, 1966, to Wanda F. Wendell and Danny L. Wendell Sr. (deceased). Danny, affectionately known as “Tiger”, was the fourth child of five and their first son. In his youth he participated in several sports: baseball, basketball and soccer. He continued his love of sport throughout his life in one form or another. He graduated from Dupont HS in WV and joined the US Army in 1985.

He said, times were tough back home, and he didn’t want to be a burden to his mother. So off to Ft Dix, NJ he went for basic training. He said he liked basic training and the physical challenges and excelled in his training. At the end of his training, his whole unit was sent overseas, he however, was sent to a small Army Depot in Corpus Christi, TX (CCAD). A place he never heard of nor knew anything about, once there and getting over the initial shock of the heat, he adapted and began his duty. He also learned about a different cuisine, and he loved it! He had guidance there and sports, he enjoyed running and having fun. He ran the Beach to Bay more than once. It was also there that he met Monica, who was working as an aide in one of the Engineering Offices. They began a friendship, and they played water volleyball together on the same team that won the tournament that year. Soon their friendship grew stronger and their love for each other was obvious, one cool night during the Spring-time, he proposed to Monica in Spanish, she of course said yes.

They continued with Danny remaining in the military and moving from duty station to duty station. Their first child, Steven was born in Germany. Danny made a TD signal at his first child’s birth. Returning back to the states shortly after, their second child was born, Jonathan. Another TD signal. Another duty station called Ft Sill, OK. It was there that their third and last child was born, a girl, Katherine. This time it was “let’s buy everything a little girl needs”. Katherine had enough pink clothes to last her a year and enough girl toys to fill a large muck bucket. Danny retired from the US Army in February 2011 after 25 years.

He served proudly and with honor and integrity. He was proud of being Airborne and he let you know it. He always maxed his PT tests and continued to stay fit after retiring. He was an avid runner and competed in 5K’s. His last 5K was in July 2025. He loved the outdoors and the peacefulness of his property along the Nueces River.

He loved his faith and never wavered on his love for God and the Church. But his greatest joy was his four grandchildren, Alianna, Samuel, Adrien & Julian. They lit up his life, he would yell to anyone of them their name, to which they would respond, “yes, Papa” and he would say to them, “Papa loves you”.

Danny & Monica were married for 36 years. Truly blessed and a marriage arranged in heaven by God, how else does a WV boy meet a TX girl?

Danny, we will miss you deeply and you will never leave our hearts or be far from our thoughts, we know Holy God called you home and we are sure you went by way of those county roads of WV.

Danny is preceded in death by his sister Elizabeth Campbell, his cousin Mel Todd Samuel, his grandmother Vada Young and grandfather Jimmie Young. He is survived by his wife Monica Wendell, his son Steven Wendell (Sarah), son Jonathan Wendell, daughter Katherine Wendell, grandchildren: Alianna, Samuel, Adrien, & Julian, his mother Wanda Wendell, two sisters, a brother and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, October 7, 2025 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM with a rosary being said at 6:00 PM at Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home in Killeen. Funeral will be held Wednesday, October 8, 2025 at 11:00 AM at St. Paul Chong Hasang in Harker Heights.