Person Page - 7382

     Carl Edward Wendell Jr., D.V.M. was buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, 1520 Harry Wurzbach Road, San Antonio, Bexar Co., Texas.^1,4,5 His Social Security Number was 333-34-7389.⁴ He was born on February 13, 1911 at Kansas.^1,4,5 He married Wilma Leone Smith, daughter of Henry Edwin Smith and Bessie Morris, on March 26, 1932 at Kansas City, Jackson Co., Missouri.⁷ Carl Edward Wendell Jr., D.V.M. and Wilma Leone Smith were divorced in April, 1955 at Mobile Co., Alabama.³ Carl Edward Wendell Jr., D.V.M. died on May 12, 1962 at Lackland Air Force Base, Bexar Co., Texas, at age 51.^1,4,5

     Terry Dale Wendell was buried at Pine Crest Cemetery, 1939 Dauphin Island Parkway, Mobile, Mobile Co., Alabama.⁶ He Terry Dale Wendell was born March 3, 1940, in Battlecreek, MI, to Carl Edward Wendell and Wilma Leone Wendell (Smith.) A military brat, he spent his childhood many places with his siblings, Carl “Sonny” Wendell Jr., Penny Lee Holcombe, Sue Wendell and bonus mom Dorothy “Dottie” Wendell. He was many things to many people: a husband, a father to six and bonus dad to three, grandad or “pops” to twenty, a great grandfather to seven, a brother to three, an uncle and mentor and friend to countless others. He passed peacefully in his home on July 13, 2023, surrounded by loved ones at 83 years old. His family often refers to him as “The Legend,” though most of what follows is confirmed to be true. With shaky knees due to a forged ID, he joined the Marine Corps underage at 17, following in his father’s footsteps and hoping not to get caught. He served in the reserves before pursuing a career working with his hands, repairing cargo ships and running his own business. This afforded him the opportunity to coach his kid’s t-ball teams, pursue his hobbies, and live what seems like countless lives. Never a people pleaser but always a jokester, his enigmatic spirit drew folks to him from all walks of life. He loved connecting with people, often turning strangers into buddies right away with his grand stories and tokens of wisdom. He always had time to “shoot the breeze” or pick up the phone to chat and give advice. Whatever the subject matter, he seemed to possess a wealth of knowledge and never missed an opportunity to slip witty quips into even the most serious of conversations. While he had many passions along with being a dad, his greatest thrill in life was flying—building and working on planes was the second. A pilot for most of his days, he was self taught and amassed over 800,000 traveling miles; most often, his 1959 Cessna 180 was headed out west. He found joy in the red rocks of Colorado and Utah, in tiny landing strips nestled in the mountains and valleys of Idaho and Montana. Summers were spent camping with his family, hopping from airstrip to airstrip—or, at times, landing places never meant to be airstrips at all. Flights in his later years mostly consisted of swooping low over Dauphin Island, “waving” the wings of his plane to beach goers, sometimes with the doors of his plane removed. Always with a smile on his face. He also had a love for sailing and motorcycles, cruising through canyons on his Sturgis model Harley past herds of wild buffalo and taking his sailboat out with his kids. No matter what hobby he was focused on at the time, he put everything into it. Always knowledgeable about his craft, always learning more, always tinkering. When he wasn’t on the go, you could find him in the kitchen stirring up a big pot of gumbo, or down at the airport simply stirring the pot. He is survived by his wife, Debbie Wendell, his step-mom, Dottie Wendell and big brother Sonny, his children, Missy Carter (Paul Carter), Terry Dale Wendell II (Angela Wendell), J. Scott Wendell, Jayson Wendell (Ashlee Wendell), Jordan Wendell (Hillary Trainor), and Dana Wendell, and bonus children Ronald “Bo” Miller (Teri Miller), Rachel McGriff, and Andrew Miller. Grandchildren Jami Carter Brannon and Jeffrey Carter, Haley Gavlick, Kaitlyn, Tori, and Terry “Trey” Wendell III, Lauren and Abby Pate, Cami Smith, Ray Nelson, Rebecca Kirkland, Brooke and Bodie Wendell, Cameron Wendell, Raleigh Wendell, Sam, Claire, and Cate McGriff, and Bailiey Miller Neeley. Great-grandchildren Cambria, Nash, Grace, Michael, Noah, Cailieb, and Olivia. He also leaves behind a devoted and loving chihuahua, Taco, who expanded his heart and his worldview one kiss at a time. There are countless more tales to tell of his life: landing in Lajitas, TX where he met a beer drinking goat; scaring the wits out of his kids with stories of “cat man,” a boogeyman of his own making who would surely snatch you away if given the chance; flying his plane underneath the Dauphin Island Bridge; standing up to “surf” on his Kawasaki 900 in flip flops and shorts (and tumbling from it.)² He married Debra "Debbie" Unknown.² Terry Dale Wendell was born on March 3, 1940 at Battle Creek, Calhoun Co., Michigan.² He married Margaret Beverly in February, 1960 at Mobile Co., Alabama.³ Terry Dale Wendell died on July 13, 2023 at Mobile Co., Alabama, at age 83.²

     Carl Edward Wendell III Carl E. Wendell III went to his heavenly home on February 6, 2025 at the age of 91. Born on July 31, 1933, in Manhattan, Kansas, to Wilma Leone (Smith) and Carl E. Wendell II, Carl's life was filled with diverse experiences. He traveled with his veterinarian father during his Army Air Corps and Civilian Conservation Corps career, served as a proud Marine rifle instructor and staff sergeant in 1953, and lived by the motto “Semper Fi”. After military service, Carl enjoyed a 44-year career at Illinois Central Railroad in Chicago, where he met his wife Phyllis and raised their three sons. They retired to Ft Myers, Florida, in 2000. Known for his charm, Carl made friends everywhere, from railroaders and hardware store clerks to bankers and the bagel shop team. A devout man, he attended Mass regularly and was a faithful member of several churches. His hobbies included woodworking, reading, fishing, and cooking. He was a member of NARVE, Resurrection Church Men’s Club, and Compass Point HOA. He is preceded in death by siblings Terry (Debra) and Penny (Billy), son David, and granddaughter Erica. Survived by his wife of 62 years, Phyllis (Berschinski), sons Philip (Aimee) and Carl IV (Jennifer), daughter-in-law Cindy, and grandchildren Jennifer Clark (Matt), Jacqueline Walsh (Tom), Shannon Marinos (Fani), Carlee, Evan, Eric, Jacob, great-grandchildren Dylan, Brady, Alexis, Caroline, Ana, Nia, and Cam and many special, nieces, nephews and friends.² He was born on July 31, 1933 at Manhattan, Riley Co., Kansas.² He married Phyllis Berschinski circa 1963.² Carl Edward Wendell III died on February 6, 2025 at Florida at age 91.²

     Penny Lee Wendell was buried at Stockton Memorial Cemetery, Stockton, Baldwin Co., Alabama.^3,5 She Penny Lee Holcombe, known to her precious grandchildren as “That Me-Me”, “Granny”, and “Grandy”, left us too soon on January 27, 2019. Penny was born in Ludington, Michigan on August 1, 1942, and resided in Stockton, Alabama. She is preceded in death by her husband, Billy Holcombe; her grandson, Goose Johnson; and her parents. She is survived by her daughters, Tracy Holcombe, Kim Landeros, and Amber Johnson; her son, Mike Landrum; her brothers, Carl Wendell II and Terry Wendell; her grandchildren, nieces, nephews, her dog, LuLu, and other relatives and friends. Graveside services will be held at Stockton Memorial Cemetery.³ She was born on August 1, 1942 at Ludington, Mason Co., Michigan.^3,5 As of February 5, 1964,her married name was Holcombe.⁵ She married Billy Baugh Holcombe on February 5, 1964.^3,5 Penny Lee Wendell died on January 27, 2019 at Alabama at age 76.³

     Billy Baugh Holcombe was buried at Stockton Memorial Cemetery, Stockton, Baldwin Co., Alabama.² He was born on April 25, 1938 at Alabama.² He married Penny Lee Wendell, daughter of Carl Edward Wendell Jr., D.V.M. and Wilma Leone Smith, on February 5, 1964.^1,2 Billy Baugh Holcombe died on December 2, 1998 at age 60.²