John Ambrose Pendergrass, Jr

John Ambrose Pendergrass Jr, 92, died on Thursday December 7, 2017. The son of John A. and Maude (Price) Pendergrass, he was born in Fort Payne, AL and has resided in Mobile, AL since 1998. Pre-deceased by his loving wife of 59 years, Dolly Ruth Liles Pendergrass, he is survived by three children, John A. Pendergrass, III (Carol Adaire Jones), Judith Ann Pendergrass and Nancy Jean Pendergrass; one sister, Price Pendergrass Hicks; his special friend for the last 5 years Kay Montgomery; 9 nieces and nephews and their spouses; 12 grand nieces and nephews and their spouses and 3 great grand nieces and nephews. He served in the US Navy during WWII and Korea (1943-1946, 1951-53), and then in US Naval Reserves, retiring as Lieutenant. He received his Bachelor of Science, from The University of Alabama, 1948, and his Master in Public Health, from the University of Michigan, 1956. His distinguished career as a public health professional included serving as a biologist, chemist and industrial hygienist at Tennessee Valley Authority, Muscle Shoals, Alabama (1948-1956); Industrial Hygienist for Boeing Corporation, Wichita, Kansas (1956-1957); Corporation Industrial Hygienist for American Cyanamid, Wayne, New Jersey (1957-1964); Associate Medical Director Department (1964-1979) and Manager of Hazard Aware Production (1979-1986) for 3M Corporation, St. Paul, Minnesota. President Ronald Reagan appointed him as Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, United States Department of Labor, Washington (1986-1989). Since 1989, he was President of Pendergrass Associates. A highly esteemed member of the industrial hygiene profession, he served the American Industrial Hygiene Association as President (1974-1975) and as a member of the Board of Directors (1967-1970), and continued to attend AIHA meetings through this past year. He also served on the American Board Industrial Hygiene Board of Directors (1981-1987), the Board Certified Safety Professionals Board of Directors (1974-1977), and as a member of the American Academy Industrial Hygienists. He collected antique cars over the last four decades, including a Model A Ford town sedan, three MGs, a replica of a 1927 Bugatti boat tail racer, and his current car, a 1937 Packard convertible. Members of The Minnesota MG T Register during the 1970s and 1980s, he and Dolly enjoyed traveling with the club to many Gatherings of the Faithful around the Midwest. Most recently he was an active member of the Deep South Region of the Antique Automobile Club of America, Mobile Alabama. He was a long time member of Christ United Methodist Church of Mobile Alabama.

Funeral services will be held at Christ United Methodist Church of Mobile Alabama on Saturday December 9, 2017 at 12 noon. Visitation will start at 11 am. Interment will be in his home town Fort Payne, Alabama. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the American Industrial Hygiene Association or the Mobile Symphony Orchestra are welcome. Condolences may be offered at www.radneyfuneralhome-mobile.com. Arrangements under the direction of Radney Funeral Home-Mobile, Mobile, AL.