Earl Levi Mendell

Earl Levi Mendell, 87, was born April 23, 1927, in Ottawa, Kansas, to Ira Levi and Elizabeth (Houston) Mendell. He was the youngest of eleven children. He attended Franklin County schools including Ottawa High School. At the age of seventeen, he enlisted in the United States Navy. After basic training at Naval Station Great Lakes in suburban Chicao, Illinois, he was stationed in California until he was honorably discharged due to a medical condition. On June 4, 1944, he married Bonnie Jones at Ottawa. They shared over sixty years of marriage until her death on June 17, 2006. They had one daughter, Bonita Nicewander, who passed away on July 3, 2013 at the age of 66. Earl worked for the Gas Service Company for forty-two years retiring in 1989. A member of Trinity Methodist Church for many years, Earl was currently a member of First Baptist Church in Ottawa. He enjoyed singing both country music and gospel songs and often sang at the Senior Center as well as various churches. He and Bonnie enjoyed taking trips to Branson, Missouri until her health deteriorated and he became her devoted caregiver until her death. Besides singing, Earl enjoyed bowling, traveling, karaoke, going to church and family get-togethers. Earl was preceded in death by his wife Bonnie, daughter Bonita, and ten siblings. He is survived by many nieces and nephews including Linda Fredricks, Richard Mendell, Roger Mendell, Betty Winters all of Ottawa; Beverly Beeler of Olathe, Kansas; Iris Miller of Kansas City, Ron Mendell of Wichita, Kanas and Gwen Ogan of Greeley, Colorado. Also surviving is a special friend Harma McKenzie. He lived at Vintage Park in Ottawa for over a year but had resided at Richmond Healthcare for the past two years. He was a wonderful husband, father, brother, uncle, and friend and always a gentleman. He made the best of difficult situations and was kind and caring. He will be missed by family and friends and all who knew him. Graveside services will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 21, 2015 at Highland Cemetery, Ottawa, Kansas. The family will receive friends from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday, March 21, 2015 at Lamb-Roberts Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to College of the Ozarks and sent in care of Lamb-Roberts Funeral Home, P.O. Box 14, Ottawa, KS 66067. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Earl Levi Mendell please visit our Sympathy Store.

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