Bobby Ray McLendon, age 88, and a longtime resident of College Park, passed away peacefully on January 31, 2019, after more than a year of declining health. Born May 30, 1930, in Atlanta, he was the youngest of seven children born to Jesse M. and Elizabeth Sartain McLendon. Bob graduated from Fulton High School, and attended North Georgia College in Dahlonega before enlisting in the United States Air Force, where he served during the Korean Conflict. He continued his service in the Air Force Reserve at Dobbins AFB, and completed his degree at the Atlanta Division of the University of Georgia, presently Georgia State University.
Bob was a talented woodworker who began his career in the family cabinet business. He later went into sales with Sealtest Foods, before a lengthy career in appliance sales for several companies, including Amana Refrigeration and Litton. Bob returned to his passion, finishing his career by starting his own very successful kitchen remodeling business.
He was an active participant in alumni groups of both Fulton H.S. and North Georgia College. Bob was an avid fan of the Georgia Bulldogs, Atlanta Crackers and Braves. During the 1996 Para-Olympics in Atlanta, he volunteered as a delegation escort and driver, and was assigned to the Hong Kong delegation, an experience that remained a highlight of his life. He also loved working in the yard, had vegetable gardens and spent countless hours gardening and cultivating plants and flowers at his home.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Norma Fields McLendon; brothers George, Jack, Frederick, Melburne and James McLendon; and sister Elizabeth M. McCutcheon. A devoted father, he is survived by his only child Wendi McLendon Pruett (Ken), and only grandchild Savannah Pruett, all of Suwanee; and several nieces and nephews. The family expresses its appreciation to nieces Linda McLendon Dickerson and LeAnne McLendon Lemmond for their care in recent months.
At Bob’s request, his body was donated to Emory University School of Medicine. The family requests donations to Wounded Warriors Family Support, wwfs.org, or a charity of your choice. Visitation will be conducted on Sunday, February 17, 2019 at H.M. Patterson and Son's Spring Hill Chapel from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm. A Memorial Service will follow immediately at 3:00 pm.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18