A. Willard Mendenhall

Born September 17, 1918 ~ Went to Glory September 3, 2011

Willard was born in Hay Springs, Nebraska on a potato farm to Paul and Edith and was the third of eight children, one was adopted. In 1940, he sold his potato crop and move to Portland, OR to attend Cascade College, which was a private college at the time. The first person he met when he arrived on campus was his future wife, Phyllis High. They were married on September 28, 1941 and were married just shy of 65 years before her passing in 2006. He graduated from Cascade College in 1945 with a Bachelor of Theology and a Bachelor of Arts degree. Within the first five years they had three boys under the age of three. Another son was born in 1953 and a daughter in 1960. During the war he worked nights in the Portland shipyard while attending college during the day. Between 1947 and 1958 he attended several schools and earned his Masters Degree in School Administration and his Divinity Degree. He taught school in North Carolina and Illinois. While attending college and teaching he was a Quaker minister until his retirement in 1972. After retirement he never slowed down and poured his life into his children and grandchildren. He is survived by his five children, 18 grand-children and 18 great-grandchildren.

A "Celebration of Life" gathering is planned on what would have been his 93rd birthday. It will be held at Reedwood Friends Church, 2901 SE Steele St, Portland, OR 97202 on Saturday, September 17th at 10am. A brunch is to follow, please RSVP by Thursday, September 15th to [email protected] Subject line: Willard if planning to attending.

Arrangements under the direction of Skyline Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, Portland, OR. (503) 292-6611

Willard will be privately laid to rest in Skyline Memorial Gardens.

Please check back to this site later to see updates to Willard's life story in words and pictures.