January 8, 1931 – October 21, 2021
Rebecca Lou “Becky” Mendenhall, 90, passed away at her home in Sheridan on Thursday morning, October 21, 2021. Born in Noblesville on January 8, 1931, she was the daughter of the late Russel Warren and Anna Mildred (Goff) Bailey.
Becky was a 1949 graduate of Sheridan High School and was a member of the East Union Christian Church. She worked as a line inspector, as well as in the laboratory for IMMI, retiring from the company in 1995 after 25 years of dedicated service.
Becky was the undisputed leader of the Mendenhall family. In addition to her already busy life, she found time to raise her family and assist her husband with their farming responsibilities. She was a loving mother and dedicated farmwife, but “Grandma Becky” was the role she cherished the most. Becky was a master quilter, and lovingly hand stitched quilts for all her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her passion and talent for quilting will be a lasting reminder of the love she shared with her friends and family.
Becky loved to travel. She and her husband Red enjoyed camping throughout the years; however, as Becky got older, the cold Indiana winters seemed less and less appealing. She effortlessly transformed into a snowbird, finding her way down to Florida for many a winter. Her Florida trips slowly started to migrate to the west – Texas to be exact – where she would meet up with her friends and fellow snowbirds, Dort and Pokey Pickett. Becky also loved working puzzles, cheering on her Colts and Pacers, and spending as much time as she could with her grand dog Lucy.
Becky is survived by her sons, Bill Mendenhall (Debbie) of Danielsville, Ga., and Gary L. Mendenhall (Shirley E.) of Tipton; daughter, Pam Pickard (Dennis) of Sheridan; daughter-in-law, Colleen Mendenhall-Freeman (Bruce) of Cicero; 11 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; 5 great-great-grandchildren; brother, Warren David Bailey of Pickard; sisters, Patty Thomas McFarland of Kirklin, Bobbie Sturdevant of Westfield, Carolyn Heffelmire of Bunker Hill, Sharon Sue Heffelmire of Westfield, and Janice Kay Harris of Sheridan; many nieces and nephews; and by her loving companion, Harold Pitts of Sheridan.
She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Rusty Mendenhall; grandson, Brian Mendenhall; great-grandson, Wyatt Henderson; and by her loving husband, Harold M. “Red” Mendenhall, on March 3, 1999. She and Red were married in January of 1949.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, October 27, 2021, at Kercheval Funeral Home, 306 E. 10th St., Sheridan, with Visitation from noon until the time of service. Burial will follow at Crown View Cemetery in Sheridan. Reverend Mark Knapp will be officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be presented to the East Union Christian Church.
Condolences: kerchevalfuneralhome.com