Warren Lee Bendel

Dr. Warren Lee Bendel of Kingwood Texas passed away on May 8, 2015. He was born in Ravenna, Ohio on January 19, 1925, the son of Fred Ralph and Lillian Riggenbach Bendel . After his father died in 1927, Warren moved often, going to school in Ravenna, Bangor, Bath and Nazareth PA, Sussex, NJ and Ravenna again.. He graduated from Kent State University and earned his Ph. D. in Physics at the University of Illinois. He and Adele Slama were married on April 7, 1956 at Luther Place Memorial Church in Washington DC.

Dr. Bendel was a nuclear physicist at the US Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, from 1953 to 1984. He was also a summer employee of the Los Alamos National Laboratory in 1949 and, on sabbatical leave, was visiting professor at the University of Maryland in 1971-72.

He was an author of over 40 refereed scientific papers, mostly in the Physical Review. He received his division's "NRL Research Publication Award" in 1977 and 1978. Most of his work was on the nuclear reactions and radioactivity produced by high energy electrons. The Ph.D. thesis centered on the radioactivity of silver-106. In addition to classified work, his work at NRL was on photonuclear threshold energies, then 180-degree scattering of 39- and 56-million electron volt electrons. He designed a magnetic spectrometer built at Illinois and several magnetic systems at NRL. His later work was largely mathematical, calculating radiation damage to spacecraft electronics.

Warren was on the church councils of Luther Place Memorial Church, Washington DC, Faith Lutheran Church, Oxon Hill, MD and Abiding Presence Lutheran Church, San Antonio TX - often as treasurer or president. He was on the board of Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area for 7 years and was treasurer of the NRL branch of the Research Society of America for two years. He was a member of the American Physical Society and of Holy Comforter Lutheran Church, Kingwood Texas.

He was a man of integrity, principles, good humor, sharp wit, kindness and generosity. He had primarily a great love for family, enjoyed almost daily walks after retirement for 22 years with his wife. They also participated in several bridge groups. Warren and Adele were also avid travelers, visiting many national parks (including Yosemite five times), and taking cruises to England, Alaska and through the Panama Canal.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 59 years, Adele; Daughter, Kathy and her husband Terry Ciliske of Kingwood, Texas; three grandsons, Captain Charles Warren and wife Colleen of Houston, Texas, Daniel Eric of Carlsbad California, and Steven Lawrence of Houston, Texas.

A memorial service will be held at Holy Comforter Lutheran Church, Kingwood Texas on May 11, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. followed by a reception at the church. Afterwards burial will be in Adele's hometown of Cameron Texas. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to Holy Comforter Lutheran Church.