William Kendall

Cannelton, Indiana John William"" Bear"" Kendall, 93, passed away at 3:27pm Wednesday, September 15th 2010, at Owensboro Medical Health System of natural causes after a long, healthy and colorful life. He was born in Cannelton Indiana December 8, 1916. He was from a large family of long-time Cannelton Merchants that tend to live long and die behind the cash register. That included his parents Fred and Louise Kendall who operated a tavern in Cannelton as well as a grocery store for over 60 years. He learned the tavern business from them . He gained the name 'Bear"" in high school as a tall, dark and handsome star center for the Cannelton High School Basketball team during a time when Cannelton had significant standing in Hoosier basketball. After graduating from Cannelton he worked at the Cannelton Cotton Mills from 1934 to 1941. He married Maude DeWitt from Cloverport, KY in 1937. He bought his first tavern ""Bears"" in 1941. In that same year he was conscripted into the United States Navy and was trained at the Great Lakes Naval Academy on the North Shore of Chicago as one of the first Radar Technologists. He served a tour of duty that included Norfolk, VA, The U.S. Virgin Islands and the Eastern coast of South America. He bought his second tavern 'Sams' in 1951. He loved the bar business and worked it personally as recently as the week before his death making it a career of over 69 years. He was everything a corner bartender should be, marriage counselor, policeman, pawn broker, banker, and political activist. He loved to play all card games, was very good at it, and played until shortly before he died. He was a member of the Harry G. Myers American Legion Post #142 in Cannelton. He was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years Maude Dewitt Kendall, parents Fred and Louise (Fishback) Kendall, siblings; Elmer Kendall, Charlie Kendall, Ida Mae Olberding, Eva Snider, Lucille Rhodes; a grandson William Frederick "Bill" Kendall and a nephew Keith Kendall. He is survived by three children, William Hargis "Billy" Kendall, Patricia (Dan) Cole, and DeWitt "Todd" Kendall, two siblings, Freddie Kendall of Evansville and Thelma Wolf of Georgia, three grandchildren; Candie (Paul) Kleemann, Joni (Brian) Burton, and Breanne Cole. He is also survived by 8 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Services will at 2:00 PM on Sunday 19th of September at Huber Funeral Home, Cannelton Chapel, with burial in New Cliff Cemetery. Rev. Lee Brown will officiate. Visitation is on Saturday from 2:00 to 8:00 PM and on Sunday from 10:00 AM until service time. Memorial contributions may be made to Visiting Nurse Association or your favorite charity.