Wendell Max Chantry

ARLINGTON -- Wendell Max Chantry, a retired Petroleum Engineer, passed away Monday, July 13, 2015. A graveside service and burial for Wendell, and his wife of 69 years, LaVerna, will be at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery in Dallas on August 14, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. A reception will follow for family and friends at Green Oaks Wedding Chapel at 11:00 a.m. (4115 S.W. Green Oaks, Arlington, TX 76017). Contributions may be made by check to Divine Mercy Hospice, 2364 US-287 #117 Mansfield, TX 76063, and to Shriner's Hospital at www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/donate.

Wendell was born August 26, 1916 in Perkins, Oklahoma to Nile O. Chantry and Wanda McDaniel Chantry. He was married to LaVerna Walner of Wynnewood, Oklahoma in Pittsburgh, PA on June 23, 1943, and she preceded him in death in November, 2012. His sisters, Caroline Bell of Amarillo and Harriett Kreuger of Oklahoma City, also preceded him in death in 2014. Survivors include daughter, Carol Chantry Powers and her husband, Joe B. Powers, of Arlington; grandchildren, Adam Powers and Paige Wallace and husband, Ryan, of Arlington; twin great-granddaughters; and many nieces and nephews.

Wendell was raised in Oklahoma City and graduated from Classen High School in 1935. He attended the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City University and Tulsa University, where he majored in Petroleum Engineering and Petroleum Geology. His professional career began in 1940 with Continental Oil Company in Eunice, New Mexico until WW II. He entered the U.S. Army in the early 1940's, where he first served in the Medical Corps after training as a surgical technician at Fitzsimmons General Hospital in Denver and a base hospital at Camp Roberts California. He was later accepted for Officer Candidate School in the Chemical Warfare service at Edgewood Arsenal, Maryland, where he graduated as a second lieutenant. He was assigned to Army Chemical Warfare Procurement Districts in Pittsburgh, PA and Chicago, Il, attaining the rank of Captain. He was discharged in 1946, and was awarded several commendations for his service.

After the war, he worked for Davon Oil Company in Oklahoma City and Davenport Oklahoma until 1952, when he joined United States Smelting, Refining and Mining Company in Midland, Texas as a Drilling and Production Engineer. He later joined Texam Oil Division of Energy Resources until 1985, when he left to form his own consulting firm. He was very proud of his career and his accumulated knowledge of the many aspects and problems of drilling and production. He served many clients in the industry until his retirement in 1992.

Wendell was a 50 Year Mason, a 50 Year Scottish Rite Mason, and held dual Shrine membership in Suez Temple in San Angelo and Moslah Temple in Fort Worth. He was a long time member of First United Methodist Church of Fort Worth and the Twosome Sunday School Class.

He believed he experienced the best life had to offer with a happy marriage, a wonderful family, a long and exciting career, a host of great friends, and the luck to have lived in the best century of the best country in the world!