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Eddie Gene Kendall, 91, passed away February 5, 2025 at his residence in Vallejo, California. Eddie was the oldest child born in Sand Springs, Oklahoma to the late Jean and James Edgar Kendall. Eddie was preceded in death by his loving wife of 58 years, Mike Marguerite Laurel Hendrix Kendall. Though she passed in 2017, their love endured for the rest of Eddie’s life. With an entirely unique storytelling flair, Eddie would tell you he was most likely born in 1933 (not 1934) in a barn after his mom spent the day hunting rabbit. His stories were always memorable, and if you gave him a fully caffeinated cup of coffee, he would regale you with tales of an amazing, and often unbelievable, life. Eddie’s family came to California when he was about 6 years old. He graduated from Vallejo High School where he was a football player and, surprisingly, a member of the orchestra. He was an Eagle Scout and was the first member of his troop to earn the God and Country Award. After his parents’ marriage ended, they would each remarry twice; his mom to Stanley Nelson McKenna and later Charles Edward Bradd, and his dad to Dorothy Gummer Weister and later Lola Erz Thornburg. All of them helped shape Eddie into a strong and loving man. Eddie honorably served his country in the US Navy (1953 to 1961), earning the rank of Storekeeper Second Class, as well as the US Army (1970 to 1996), earning the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 3. He was a proud Korea and Vietnam veteran and was recently selected for an upcoming Honor Flight. Eddie met the love of his life while he worked at the Chevron gas station in Vallejo on the corner of Redwood and Tuolumne. He would tell you that Mike graciously filled the gas tanks of the cars of everyone she knew for weeks before he finally asked her out. Mike would tell you that wasn’t quite true, and she would finally tell her side of the story some day. She decided to keep it to herself, but I think she liked his version of events. No matter the specifics, their love was nothing short of magic and has been an anchor in Eddie’s life since they married on September 6, 1959 at St. Peter’s Chapel on Mare Island. When asked for a favorite memory of her, he said his favorite memory was having her. That’s it. Eddie was a dedicated and loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather, attending every possible basketball game, celebration, graduation, performance, concert, soccer match, Disney trip, and life event throughout the years. For each grandkid’s milestone 10th birthday, Eddie and Mike took them on a special trip wherever they wanted to go. They loved deeply and will be missed by all. Eddie was incredibly hardworking from a very young age and usually worked more than one job. After his military service, he worked in accounting the majority of his life, completing thousands of tax returns over his 65-year career that started in the county assessor’s office and culminated in his own bookkeeping and tax preparation service known all over town for his personalized pens and pocket calendars. When he wasn’t working or with family, Eddie loved spending time outdoors in his socks and sandals, and not even his decades-long battle with skin cancer could keep him inside for long. Eddie’s answer for all things in life was simple: ice cream. Whether you were happy, sad, celebrating, or sick, ice cream could cure any ailment or sweeten any celebration. He credits a bowl of ice cream each night and a nap every day as the secret to a long, fulfilling life. If Eddie was not celebrating a family milestone, at the casino or on a cruise, you’d likely find him at Wendy’s (he’s even met Dave Thomas) around lunchtime or Buttercup for dinner, where the staff quickly became extended family. Eddie is survived by his three children, Joseph Kendall, Toni Kendall, Julie (Chris) Corderi; eight grandchildren, Stephen (Shamira) Armstrong, Aaron (Traci) Armstrong, Joseph Kendall II, Nicholas (Gabrielle) Kendall, Ashleigh (Alex) Leonardini, Gregory (Jadelyn) Park, Leah (Austin) Sutton and Eujenya Lyn Kendall Park; fifteen great-grandchildren, Jace, Kaylani, Adriana, and Julieana Armstrong, Colton, Jaxson, Jocee, AJ, Liliana and Ivy Kendall, Dylan, Devyn, and Phoenix Park, and Solomon and Silas Sutton; and Godson, John-Michael Hines. He leaves behind many other close friends and family who will miss him dearly. Funeral services will take place at 1:00 P.M. on Friday, February 28, 2025 at Skyview Memorial Lawn in Vallejo, CA. A reception celebrating Eddie’s life will follow at Skyview. There will be ice cream! In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in his memory to Eddie's American Cancer Society Relay For Life team page at https://secure.acsevents.org/site/STR?fr_id=110089&pg=personal&px=60334391.

Tributes

Eddie Gene Kendall

June 28, 1933 - February 5, 2025