H. Benne Kendall, formerly of Vero Beach, passed away in his home in Fort Myers, Fla.
He is survived by his wife Tish; daughters Barbara Chapin and Nancy Kendall; son and daughter-in-law Ken and Lisa Kendall; brother and sister-in-law Jim and Tooney Kendall; grandchildren Rachael (Dan) Lingle, Julie (Tim) Austin, Meghan Harrison, Lily Kendall and Tommy Kendall; and great-grandchildren Oscar and Etta Austin and Ruby and Annie Lingle; as well as many nephews, nieces, extended family members and dear friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his eldest daughter, Kristin Kendall Harrison.
Kendall was born in Midland, Mich., on April 27, 1923, the first of two sons of Harold S. and Freda Kendall. He was a 1940 graduate of Midland High School. He attended Grove City College in Pennsylvania but interrupted his studies to enlist in the United States Army Air Force, in which he served for three years during World War II.
After completing his term of service he resumed his studies, receiving his Bachelor of Science degree from Grove City in 1948. He later earned his Master’s (1950) and Ph. D. (1956) in Chemical Engineering from Case Institute of Technology in Cleveland, Ohio.
Kendall was married on Sept. 11, 1948, to the former Patricia (Tish) Emmons, to whom he was a faithful and loving husband for more than 66 years. Together they raised three daughters and a son, and were later blessed with five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
He began his professional career as an instructor at Case. In 1960 he accepted a position as a professor of Chemical Engineering at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. He served on the faculty there until his retirement in 1993. At that time he and Tish relocated to Vero Beach. In 2009 they moved to Fort Myers in order to be closer to their children and grandchildren.
In addition to his teaching career, Kendall distinguished himself as a member and officer of many civic and community organizations including the local hospital board and the Board of Zoning Appeals in Athens. He was an elder in the First Presbyterian Church in both Athens and Vero Beach, and served terms as president of the Athens chapter of Rotary International and the O.U. Green and White Club. He officiated high school and college football games in Ohio for more than 20 years and served as president of the Ohio Association of Football Officials.
Kendall was an avid golfer and gardener. He loved to sing, and was a tenor in his church choirs for more than 60 years. He sang with the Cleveland Symphony Chorus under the direction of Robert Shaw, and was a frequent soloist at weddings. He enjoyed traveling, spectator sports, painting, and spending time with his family and friends.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 2, 2015 at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Fort Myers. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Ben’s memory to Hope Hospice, www.hopehospice.org/donate/. Friends and family members are welcome to leave messages on his electronic guest book at www.fortmyersmemorial.com.
