Beech Tree News Network

Gillis Odell Pendley, 92, left this world for his heavenly home at 9:22 am Monday, on October 16, 2017, at St Vincent Hospital in Evansville, Indiana.

Gillis was born in Butler County, Kentucky on March 22, 1925, the son of the late Clyde and Annie Pendley and was a 1943 graduate of Morgantown High School. In March of 1943, he enlisted in the United States Navy, where he served his country proudly, as a 2nd Class Signalman, on board the USS Bolivar in the Pacific Theatre, until he was honorably discharged in March of 1946. After World War ll Gillis attended the University of Kentucky where he studied civil engineering.
In June of 1947, he married his high school sweetheart, Winifred Simpson. For 39 years Gil worked at Whirlpool in the manufacturing department and retired in 1989 as a Sr Tool and Process Engineer. He was a lifetime member of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers and an Advisor for Junior Achievement. Gillis was an active member of Calvary Baptist
Church for 50 years. He and Wendy loved boating and waterskiing anywhere, but especially at Rough River,
Kentucky where they built a small cabin. They also loved vacationing in Florida where Gil spent all of his time fishing. But most of all he loved Wendy, his family, friends, and life in general. And University of Kentucky basketball.
Gillis was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 59 years Wendy, his brother William and son-in-law Kenneth Wallace.
Gil is survived by his son, Marc (Jeannie) Pendley of Morgantown; his daughters, Grace Wallace and Gina Pendley, his caregivers both of Evansville, In.; three grandchildren, Thomas Pendley of Bloomington, In., Christa Pendley of Evansville, In. and Benjamin (Brooke) Wallace of Newburgh, In.; five great-grandchildren; and his youngest brother, James
( June) Pendley of Morgantown, Ky.; and several nieces.
In lieu of flowers, volunteer at or donate to your favorite charity, teach a Sunday school class, or help an aspiring engineer or a veteran in Gillis'memory.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff of St Vincent Hospital for the care and compassion Gillis and his family received.
Funeral Services will be Thursday, October 19, 2017, at 1 pm Smith Funeral Home, 403 North Main Street, Morgantown, Kentucky with Bro. Greg Wallace officiating. Burial will follow with military honors in Hill Haven Memory Garden Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday 11 am until time of Service at Smith Funeral Home.
Sympathy may be expressed online at ....www.smithfuneralhomeonline.com