George W. Pendell

Mr. Pendell was born on February 10, 1924 to George and Manuela Pendell at their family’s farm in Ysleta/El Paso, Texas. His father, long time El Paso County Commissioner, George Pendell, was a farmer and businessman in Ysleta.

Mr. Pendell was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Albert Pendell, Mary Sena, Dora Juneau, Aurora Larimer, and Edward Pendell. He was also preceded in death by his wife June Pendell and his daughters Sherry Lynn Maros and Janice Carroll. Mr. Pendell is survived by his children, George W. Pendell Jr. and wife Helen of Austin, Texas, James Pendell and wife Wendy of Clint, Texas, Larry Owen and wife Gloria of El Paso, Texas and Richard Pendell and wife Sylvia of El Paso, Texas along with several grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Upon his graduation from Ysleta High School in 1943, he volunteered for the Army Air Corp and served as a B29 Bombardier in the Pacific during World War II. He and his bomber crew were part of the historic last mission and were recently featured on a documentary about the last bombing mission over Japan.

After the war, Mr. Pendell remained in the Air Force Reserve and was called for active duty during the Korean conflict where his experience as a bombardier was needed and advanced him to the rank of captain.

During the period of peace between wars, Mr. Pendell received a Mining Degree in Metallurgy from the Texas College of Mines. He later received his master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. His career, which spanned over 5 decades began as a Mining Engineer for Asarco, which was his true passion.

During the Cold War, opportunities led him his work in developing and testing defensive weapons for the military at White Sands Missile Range. That experience led him to positions in the Aero Space Industry where he worked on developing and testing the Lunar Module for NASA’s Apollo projects. Mr. Pendell’s career as an engineer led him to various positions in California, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Texas. As a registered professional engineer, he was also the owner of Pendell and Associates Consulting Engineers in El Paso, Texas.

Despite Mr. Pendell’s impressive career as an engineer and scientist, he always regarded himself as first and foremost as a farmer. He always attributed the lessons that he learned growing up during the Great Depression on his family’s farm, as the event that shaped his values in life.

Mr. Pendell’s services are being handled by Hillcrest Funeral Home. Visitation will be held on July 22, 2021, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The funeral service will be a graveside service on July 23, 2021 at Evergreen East Cemetery beginning at 10 a.m.