Doris Lee Wendel

Doris Lee Thompson was born on March 23, 1924 on a cotton farm near Batesville, Arkansas. Her mother was Carrie Stubblefield and her father was Clarence Frederick Thompson. She had two brothers, Nelson and Marcus, and two sisters, Irene and Pearl. They all helped with farm chores. Since this was during the Great Depression years, the family was quite poor, but because of the large vegetable garden and their chickens and cows, they always had plenty to eat. Doris remembers getting a new dress made from colorful flour sacks. She remembers her mother making quilts during the winters, and she remembers going to church on Sundays. Her favorite days were Christmas, when the cousins would come over from a nearby farm bringing presents, and the Fourth-of-July, when her dad bought ice and they made ice cream, all helping to turn the crank. This was a very special treat.

Doris also recalls the long walks to the one-room schoolhouse she and her siblings attended until eighth grade, and riding in the back of a pick-up truck for about 15 miles to get to the nearest high school. When everyone thought she would die, she survived a very serious bout of scarlet fever. She graduated from Cave City High School in 1942, and after that, went to a business college in Memphis, Tennessee where she became proficient in using the comptometer. This was an early type of adding machine, which may have helped her get her job as a cashier in Miami, Arizona. She and her sister both worked in Arizona and helped care for their parents. While there, Doris met and married the store’s butcher, Robert Wendel, on January 26, 1946, just 2 months after he returned from World War II. After their son Robert Allen was born 10 months later, she became seriously ill from complications, and soon after, from appendicitis. They decided to move to Phoenix, where medical help would be more available.

Doris and Robert had another baby, which sadly, died at birth. But they kept trying and were blessed with a daughter, Katheryn, a few years later. Doris could now stay home as the mom until Robert’s new business, of owning his own grocery store, collapsed. At that point, she needed to find a job to help out with the family finances. She went to work at Motorola, and did very well there as a printed circuit board assembler. They were introduced to a new product that Motorola would soon be making: a computer!

Robert had a heart attack in 1986, but survived this with a 4-way bypass operation. He went on to have a good life until his passing in 2011.

In their life together, Robert and Doris loved to travel. They took trips to Hawaii and Europe several times. They were able to see the Oberammergau Passion Play in Bavaria, and many places while visiting the Holy Land. They visited Switzerland, Austria, and Germany among others, but their favorite always remained closer to home in their own tropical paradise: Hawaii. When they both retired, they moved to Laguna Beach in California, to be closer to their children. Not willing to sit idly at home, they bought a frozen yogurt shop in Laguna Beach, named it the “Little Greeter,” sold sandwiches, homemade chili and smoothies as well, and ran it successfully for several years. Then, they retired again because owning your own business is a lot of work and found other employment. Doris worked for several more years after that at the Urban Beauty Supply as a cashier and managing the storefront. She even helped out during the Christmas seasons at See’s Candies selling and packaging chocolates.

Robert and Doris were very active in their church and relished their time as “Greeters” again when they could welcome people in the door. Perhaps looking to finally settle down, they bought a condo in Laguna Woods in 2002, where they were very comfortable. Doris took great joy in creating a beautiful home and entertaining guests. She cared deeply for family and friends, and will be missed by them all. Doris is survived by her son and his two grown children (her pride and joy), along with their children – GiGi’s three great-grandchildren whom she treasured. We love you so much, GiGi!

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Doris’s memory to her church, Geneva Presbyterian Church, 24301 El Toro Road, Laguna Woods, CA 92637, www.genevapres.org Tel: 949.837.2323