Dr. Max K. Mendenhall

Col. Max Kebert Mendenhall, 90, born July 30, 1920 at Upper Lake, Lake County, California died on January 16, 2011 in a Temple, Texas hospital. He was the son of Bert and Eleanor Mendenhall of California. A native Californian, he graduated from the University of California with a B.S. degree in Chemistry in 1941. That year he entered the military services until 1946. He then returned to the University of California where he completed his pre-medical studies and then went on to the Washington University School Of Medicine in St. Louis, MO, where he received his M.D. in 1951. After his internship and residency in surgery at Highland Hospital in Oakland California, Dr. Mendenhall was a general practitioner in Sonoma, CA for several years with Dr. William J. Newman before rejoining the army. Col. Mendenhall did his residency training in anesthesiology at Brook General Hospital, Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX. After a 3 year tour in Munich, Germany, where he was chief of anesthesia, he assumed a post at Walter Reed General Hospital in 1964 as chief of anesthesia and operative services. In 1967, Dr. Mendenhall was named chief of anesthesia and operative services upon his return to Brooke General Hospital. In 1973, he retired from the army and served as the chairman of the anesthesia department at Scott and White Memorial hospital in Temple until he retired in 1985. Dr. Max Mendenhall was a loving husband, father, and Grandpa. He was loved and respected by all who met him. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Rita, and his children Patty Mendenhall, Bob Mendenhall, and Jim Mendenhall and his wife Erika who blessed him with 6 grandchildren, Melissa, Daniel, Erin, Rebekah, Seth, and Ryan all of Temple, and sister Antha Toren of California. Burial will be a private service at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas.