Bobbie Pendell

Bobbie Lee Pendell was born on July 12, 1929, in Vinita, Oklahoma, to Ross J. and Jessie D. Greenfeather. The Cherokee and Loyal Shawnee ancestry of her parents always remained a very important part of her identity. Though her beginnings were humble, with a dresser drawer as her first cradle, she often said she didn’t know she was poor, because she had loving parents and they had everything they truly needed.

Shortly after her birth, she and her parents moved to Wichita, Kansas. Bobbie attended Wichita schools growing up, becoming Class President at East High School. This early sign of her leadership abilities, became increasingly evident with her many work life accomplishments. She taught preschool, established her own exclusive dress shop; and became a supervisor/manager at Kansas Gas & Electric Company in Wichita, worked with Ivan for an international missions support organization in Chatsworth, California, then later in the administration offices at UCLA. Her entrepreneurial skills resurfaced when she joined the family HVAC wholesale business in Sun Valley, California.

She and Ivan retired from the wholesale business and returned to Wichita after working in California for twenty-five years. Before their move west, they had earlier lived in Dallas, Texas, and Fort Smith, Arkansas; then returning to Wichita and eventually Derby until 1973, when they both went to work for the missions support organization in California.

The most important relationship in her life was with her Savior, Jesus Christ. She often spoke of her childhood, and lifelong, friend, Eileen Addis, who had invited her to Sunday school at Asbury Methodist Church in Wichita, walking to church together. Then, when Bobbie was about 10 years old, she accepted the call to follow Jesus at one of her church's revival services. She returned home and told her Dad that she wanted him to accept Jesus, too. Within seven years, her dad and mom became Christians and were active in the church.

Church played a key role in bringing Bobbie and her future husband, Ivan, together. They attended the same high school Sunday school class in June 1944. After dating one-and-a-half years, they married in December 1945. Ivan was already in the Army during WW II when they married, leaving the day after their wedding for Fort Riley, then eventually spending a year in Europe, serving in Germany and France. When his tour-of-duty ended, he returned home at the end of 1946.

Bobbie continued to work at Kraft Foods Company until she gave birth to their first child, Richard, in 1948. Susan, her second child, was born in 1953. Bobbie loved her family, which continued to grow with the addition of her children's spouses, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, her greatest joys!

Bobbie’s strong faith and her desire for others to know the Lord was the central theme of her life. In church, her clear alto voice could often be heard performing with choirs, quartets and as a soloist. She led women’s programs and Bible studies, using every opportunity to let others know that the Lord was first in her life. She supported the work of many missionaries, and led many tours to Turkey and Israel, visiting churches established by the apostle Paul, referenced in Revelation 1.

Mom was a beautiful woman, full of love for others and all of God's creatures. She and Dad were together 78 years. We miss her so much, but we are so glad that she is with Jesus, having the best time of her rich, full, and eternal life.

Bobbie was preceded in death by her parents Ross and Jessie Greenfeather and her brother, Ross D. Greenfeather. Survivors include her husband of 78 years, Ivan W. Pendell; son, Richard W. and his wife Mary Pendell; daughter, Susan and her husband Ron Ray; brother, Donald W. Greenfeather; grandchildren, Richard W. Pendell, II and wife, Elena, Jessica Taylor, Adrian E. Pendell and wife Patti, Stuart L. Pendell and wife Jen, Ryan W. Pendell and wife Carolina and 7 great-grandchildren.