James Richard Mendenhall

generation Californian. He is preceded in death by his parents and his brother Thomas (Tom) Mendenhall. He is survived by his brother and sister in law

Bill and Joan Mendenhall of Fayetteville, AR and his sister and brother in law Pat and Larry Askew of Ceres, CA. He is also survived by numerous nieces

and nephews, great and great great nieces and nephews and lots of cousins, uncles and aunts. He will be missed by his friends at Cathy’s in Waterford, where he ate lunch every day for years. Jim attended La Mesa Spring Valley School, Yerington Grammar School and then the family moved to Hughson when he was in the fourth grade. He continued there until graduating from Hughson High School in 1954. While in school, he was active in FFA, receiving the State Farmer Degree two years in a row. He loved track and broke the school record in the mile. In his spare time, he helped his dad on the farm and was the proud owner of four cows and a bull calf. While at Modesto Junior College, a friend talked Jim into joining the Navy. He went on to spend nine years in the Navy, mostly as an aviation storekeeper, and was honorably discharged on July 7, 1964. He worked for a while at Mendenhall Market for the folks, and then worked for twenty years at Braden Farms in Hughson, then briefly for Larson Farms. He returned to junior college after the Navy and lacked only six units to graduate. Jim loved to bowl and rolled some pretty good games.

The family wishes to thank all those who cared for Jim in his last three and a half years; Stratford at Beyer Park, Pacifica Senior Care, and the wonderful

Hospice ladies who stepped in the last few weeks of his life. Interment will be private.

A Memorial Service is planned for Thursday, July 9, 2015 at 11:00am at the Hughson United Methodist Church, 6th Street and Fox Road in Hughson.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his name may be made to Hughson United Methodist Church, or to your favorite charity.