Obituary
Obituaries
Published: August 04, 2010
Mary Elna Garlinger Pendleton
Mary Elna Garlinger Pendleton, a long-time resident of Santa Paula, had the gift of robust good health until the very end of her life. She passed away after a brief illness on July 29, 2010, three days after her 94th birthday. She leaves a legacy of personal achievement, community service, strength and good will.
Descended from pioneers who moved west in wagons in the 19th century, she was born in 1916 to parents Henry Neil Priest and Mary Ellen Robinson in Taft, California. She had two sisters, Edna and Lida.
She had natural athletic ability and excelled in many sports, especially softball. At the age of 75, she impressed her grand children when she joined them for a competitive game of volleyball at the home of June and Gordon Welsh of Santa Paula. She enjoyed attending USC football games with husband Walter and continued to follow the Trojans on television throughout her life. Above all, Mary always enjoyed a good time with family and friends.
After her first marriage to Chet Garlinger in 1945, the couple settled in Santa Paula where she became an owner and operator of the old Airport Cafe. She joined the Business and Professional Women organization and later had a lengthy career working at Point Mugu until her retirement. After Chet died in 1957, Mary continued to remain close to his family.
She married Walter Pendleton in Goleta, California in 1974. They lived in a house on Teague Drive in Santa Paula that Walter had purchased from Anita Blanchard.
They attended many of Walter’s pharmacy school reunions at USC and traveled frequently to such places as Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, and China. She enjoyed socializing with her “widow group” of friends on Friday nights at La Cabana restaurant. She also served as a treasurer and driver for Meals on Wheels and as a volunteer at the Santa Paula Memorial Hospital.
Her husband Walter passed away in 2002.
She is survived by stepchildren Roger Pendleton, John Pendleton, and Mary Pendleton Deines and their families; and great-niece Mikelyn Zufelt and nephew Butch McBain and niece Mikelyn Pollock and families.
Graveside services will be 2 pm Thursday, August 5 at Pierce Brothers Santa Paula Cemetery, 380 Cemetery Rd., Santa Paula. Arrangements will be under the direction of Skillin-Carroll Mortuary, Santa Paula. Reverend Sandra Liddell of the First United Methodist Church will officiate. Memorial contributions may be sent to Meals on Wheels, 530 W. Main Street, Santa Paula.
|
