Wendell Eggleston

But as with us all, it was not always a smooth ride. Born in El Centro, he along with his family were hit hard by the Great Depression. What to do? Do this: pile four children and two parents into a Model T truck and head north. Seek something better.

However, on a fog-shrouded night in Stockton, the truck gave out. And that’s when the kindness of others found this beleaguered crew. Wendell always said that Stockton had been good to him.

The first kindness came from the Fedi family, who owned a vacant home in need of repair near where the truck had sputtered out. The Eggleston family now had a roof over its head, paying its rent through the sweat on its brow.

The second kindness took the form of one Earl Womble, who owned an auto repair shop nearby. The “Professor,” as Wendell called Earl, taught the young lad everything there was to know about repairing Ford engines, knowledge Wendell would use for the rest of his life as we shall see. (For the discerning reader, it should be noted that the Model T truck was long-gone at this point.)

After excelling academically in high school, Wendell enlisted in the Navy in 1944 and served on a destroyer in the South Pacific during World War II. Naturally, Wendell found his way to the engine room of the USS Robert K. Huntington and did vital work there.

Emerging from the great conflict with some close calls but nary a scratch, Wendell was nearly killed in an industrial plant explosion shortly after his discharge.

That jolt spurred a new job search, which culminated in a 32-year career with Eagal Ford Sales, initially as a mechanic and then as Eagal’s Truck and Fleet Sales Manager. Wendell won many top sales awards, all the while doing a heavy lift of public-spirited work via several service clubs and organizations.

In 1950, Wendell married Helen Dentoni, and found great delight in her outsized personality as well as in their two children—Wendi and Mark.

In 1980, Wendell had to retire on disability because of hearing loss. And, in 1981, Helen passed, after 30 years of marriage.

But “Professor” Womble’s lessons once again held sway, and Wendell started a vintage car restoration business.

In 1983, Wendell married Bette Steinbrecher Still. Bette kept Wendell going strong for another 30 years, and he was there with loving care in her final years.

That brings us to the closing chapter and the kindness of one Paul Rapp, who moved with his young family onto Wendell’s street when Wendell was a widower in his late-80s. Turns out, Paul was interested in restoring old Fords. Initially unaware that he lived so near an expert in that field, Paul learned soon enough and the two began a years-long collaboration and friendship.

Finally, Wendell’s family would be remiss not to acknowledge the many acts of kindness bestowed by neighbors over decades on this self-titled “mayor of the block.” And we’d like to thank caregiver Rosie as well.

Wendell was a tireless worker, a straight shooter, an avid reader, a person of deep commitment, and a man of kind heart and good humor. He leaves behind his two children, a daughter-in-law (Naray), a niece (Kathryn), and two grandsons and their significant ones (Drew (Jennifer), Evan (Maddi)). Services are private. Please be kind—who knows, it may work a wonder.