Wendell Kendrick

Wendell E. Kendrick died at home on October 15, 2022, after a brief illness. He was 90. Born in Chattanooga, he was the oldest of the four children born to Elmo and Joyce Kendrick. Wendell was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Amelia Johnson Kendrick, and is survived by sons, Eddie Kendrick (Elizabeth) and John Kendrick (Shelia) of Cookeville, Scott Kendrick (Lynn) of Nashville, grandchildren, Taylor and Hailey Kendrick and great grandchild, Tatum Kendrick. He is also survived by his sisters, Jean Baker of Chattanooga, TN, Wanda Anderson of Summerville, SC, and Pat (Kurt) Carpenter of Lebanon, TN.

Wendell was a graduate of Tennessee Polytechnic Institute (now Tennessee Tech University) and also earned an MBA from Tennessee Tech. Wendell met Amelia at Tech and was immediately smitten. They were married March 18, 1954. Upon graduating from the ROTC program at Tech, Wendell entered the Army as a First Lieutenant and was assigned to Karlsruhe, Germany during the post WWII reconstruction era. Upon leaving the military, the family returned to Cookeville, with two-year-old Eddie. Scott and John shortly followed. Wendell then began his 66-year accounting career and continued doing tax preparation and bookkeeping until his death, operating as Kendrick Management Corporation. He loved his work and considered his long-time clients as friends.

He was a member and volunteer of the Mended Hearts Organization (to support heart disease awareness) at Cookeville Regional Hospital. He enjoyed cooking and purchased and operated the “Cup and Saucer” restaurant in Monterey in his late 60’s. Wendell embraced continuous learning and was always interested in the latest technology. He loved a good story and often had a ready joke for his friends. He and Amelia were longtime members of the First Baptist Church of Cookeville and the Wallace Prescott Sunday School class.

The family would like to thank his longtime physician, Dr. Kenny Lynn and wonderful caregiver, Khiristy Billingsly.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, October 20th at the Cookeville Chapel of Hooper Huddleston and Horner Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Cookeville City Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Wednesday from 5 - 7 p.m. and again Thursday from 12 p.m. until the service time. You may share your thoughts and memories at www.hhhfunerals.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Mended Hearts, Inc., Chapter 127, c/o Blanche Smithers, 520 Jamestown Rd., Cookeville, TN 38501; Cookeville Regional Medical Foundation/Cancer Fund, 1 Medical Center Bvld, Cookeville, TN 38501; the First Baptist Church, 18 S. Walnut Ave., Cookeville, TN 38501 or a charity of your choosing.