Mr. Robert Edward Bendl

Born on January 22nd, 1924 in Bergenfield New Jersey to the late Edward and Gertrude Bendl, Robert was one of two children. He is survived by his sister, Marjorie Bendl Snyder of Walnut Creek California. Robert’s wife, Gloria, preceded him in death in May 2009.

Robert joined the US Navy right after Pearl Harbor, and served throughout the war with the Naval Aviation branch in the South Pacific. He was discharged in 1945 as a Petty Officer 1st Class. He returned to New Jersey, married Gloria Duesing in 1948, and took up dairy farming and boat repairs in Lake Champlain NY. After the outbreak of the Korean conflict, he enlisted in the US Army as a Sargent in 1951. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant, and graduated from both fixed wing and helicopter flight schools. He served in the Korean conflict, flying both types of aircraft. When the Korean Conflict ended in 1954, he was assigned to Sendai Japan, and the family joined him there. Returning again to Virginia in 1955, he served in the Army Transportation Research and Development Command, as Special Projects Officer, earning 6 US Patents for his designs for off- loading cargo from ships by helicopter. In 1964 he was assigned to the Republic of Korea as the Senior Advisor the Korean Army Transportation Corps. Upon returning stateside, he was assigned to the General’s Staff at Ft. Lee Virginia. He retired from that post in 1966, turning his attention to his trailer park and boat businesses. After selling the trailer park, the family moved to Mathews Virginia in 1972, to a home on the water where he could test drive the boats he continued to sell and service. He also began to take longer and longer trips to Homestead Florida, until it became his home. Hurricane Andrew convinced him to move to higher ground, and he settled in Lake Placid Florida in 1995 where he could enjoy the weather, and the nearby airfield.

Robert is survived by four of his five children, Robert Jr. of Roanoke Va., Stephen (Mary Sue) of Charlotte NC, David (Angie) of Chicago Il, and Helen Bendl Cronk (David) of Chesapeake Va. His oldest daughter, Marjorie Bendl Moore preceded him in death in 1995. He was also blessed with 10 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

A service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, April 1 in the Parklawn Memorial Park Mausoleum, in Hampton.

Arrangements are under the direction of Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home, 2551 N Armistead Ave., Hampton, VA 23666.