On Saturday, February 20, 2021, Charles Saywood Pendley (Chuck) said a peaceful farewell to his earthly life and joined his loved ones who were waiting for him in heaven. This world has lost a noble man, one whose entire life was dedicated to loving, caring and serving those around him. Chuck was born July 15, 1930, to Charles and Ellen Mary Pendley in Culver City, California. He learned early the value of working hard, being taught well by his dad, and he passed that ethic on to his children. He loved athletics, spending as many hours as possible in the California sun and the Pacific Ocean swimming, surfing, and being a lifeguard. As a student at VanNuys High School, he won awards on the track team and played football. The friendships he made in those very active years, particularly with Kenny Thompson, remained with him throughout his life. He attended college for a while before joining the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict. He was assigned to work in Germany and while there was selected to play football on the Air Force team. Chuck was a great story teller and loved to entertain his family and friends with stories of his youth and Air Force days.
Chuck met his future wife, Vera Warenski, during training in Tooele, Utah, before being assigned to Germany. A flirtation developed into a love and devotion that spanned the ocean. When he returned to the U.S. on leave, Chuck and Vera were married. They loved and reared their five children in Murray, Utah. Vera passed away in 1983. Chuck later married Effie Newman and enjoyed a fun-filled ten years with her until she passed away in 1995. Then in 2001, he married Nettie Bagley, and they made a wonderful life together for his remaining 20 years.
Chuck always enjoyed teaching and playing with his sons, coaching them in little league football and softball and helping them reach the proficiency needed to play these sports in high school. He played softball himself in recreational leagues, and again made life-long friends in these activities. His real passion in later years was golf.
Chuck worked hard to support his family, delivering Coca Cola to stores in Utah and Wyoming, driving dump trucks during freeway construction, and finally settling into his career employment with Chevron Oil Refinery in Woods Cross, Utah. He worked on every assignment given him from the bottom up and learned the workings of the refinery so well that he became supervisor of training for the company. He enjoyed and appreciated his work and retired from Chevron after a 40- year career there. After his retirement, Chuck drove for two limousine services and helped to bring the St. George Shuttle service into Salt Lake City.
In his early years of marriage to Vera, he was taught and became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He loved the Savior and the Gospel and served the Lord faithfully throughout the remainder of his life. Chuck was called by President James E. Faust to serve a stake mission as companion to Gil Meier. He has many great stories about this mission, and Gil became a dear and life-long friend. For eight years, Chuck served as a veil worker in the Jordan River Temple, further enhancing his testimony of the Savior. His callings involving work with the young men in his ward were among his favorites, not only teaching and adventuring with them, but helping them become successful future leaders. These boys also became a part of his life throughout his remaining years. He served as a counselor to two bishops, then at the age of 78 was called to be bishop of the Cottonwood First Ward. He often said his years as bishop were the best of his life, and he meant that with all his heart. He was a “people” person, and so serving those around him and taking them into his heart was a most fulfilling joy in his life. He served to the age of 83.
Grandpa Chuck was a favorite playmate and a “class act” to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They will always remember their trips to Lake Powell with him. Whether it was the summer BBQs, dancing with the little ones on the grass, playing jump rope and hop scotch with the kids in first grade on grandparents day, taking them to baseball spring training in Arizona, or playing miniature cars on the floor, there was always something happening with the children. He was also a mentor and a shoulder to lean on for them when they needed him.
Chuck is survived by his wife, Nettie, his sons Terry Pendley, Jed and Wendy Pendley, and Robert and Tracie Pendley, his daughter Carolyn McDonald and his brother-in-law and sister-in-law Don and Jeannine Warenski. He has 13 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren, with two more on the way. He also is survived by step-sons Kurt and Kathleen Bagley and Justin Bagley, and step-daughters Angela and Kelly Foote and Jennifer and Steve Newman, with 10 more grandchildren and three more great-grandchildren. He was pre-deceased by his parents, two wives, a brother Ron Pendley, a son Ryan Pendley, a daughter-in-law Jan Pendley and a granddaughter, Allison Pendley.
Heartfelt thanks to the Quality Home Health and Hospice staff, especially Becky, Alexis, Sally, Mike, Ruth and Rachel, for the very loving care they gave to Chuck for the last year of his life, and thanks to Wasatch Lawn Memorial staff for their thoughtful, dignified and caring service.
Funeral services will be held Friday, February 26, 2021, at noon in the Cottonwood First Ward chapel, 5913 South Highland Drive, Holladay, Utah. A viewing will precede the services from 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. in the same building. Please wear a mask and observe social distancing. The services will be broadcast over zoom at:
Topic: Funeral Service for Charles Pendley
Time: Feb 26, 2021 12:00 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
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