October 18, 2021. Wendell was born on October 14, 1931 in Mt. Airy, NC to the
late John and Emma Marion. He is preceded in death by his wife of 30 years, Carol.
his brother John Lee, sisters, Virgie, Esther, and Annie Gay, and his daughter, Lydia,
grandson, William, sons-in-law, Chuck Sanders and Larry Mitchell.
Wendell was a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
and held many positions within the Church throughout his life with a special passion
for the Scouting program. Wendell was faithful in his callings and always answered the
Lord’s call to serve. His giving spirit spread throughout his community as he was
recognized for donating 30 gallons of blood over his lifetime.
Wendell spent his youth in North Carolina and joined the US Navy in 1950 and
served until he was honorably discharged in 1954. It was during this time that he met
his first wife, Kay Donna Silva and they married February 26, 1954.
Wendell ran several different gas stations as he traveled from the east coast to the
west and back again. When he settled in the High Desert in 1965, he began his
career as a sheet metal worker at George AFB where he retired in 1992.
Wendell met his second wife, Carol, in 1983 and they were sealed for time and all
eternity in the Los Angeles Temple September 26,1985. Wendell and Carol enjoyed
30 years together travelling around the country, visiting every family member they
could on each excursion. They would return home to Apple Valley and it wouldn’t be
long before he was itching to get out on the open road again and off they would go,
earning his nickname, The Wanderer.
Through his church service, his career, and as a member of the community, Wendell
touched so many lives, is so deeply loved and will be sorely missed. He leaves behind
his brother, Melvin (Denise)Marion, daughter Lendell Kay (Legrand) Johnson, daughter
Leslie Kim Mitchell, son Lehi Kip (Debbie) Marion, son Lawrence Keith Marion,
daughter Laura Karr (Charlie) Warfield, son Lenard Kendrick (Michelle) Marion, son
Luke Kendall (Jennifer) Marion, son, Layne Kristopher (Ramya) Marion, and step-son,
Matt (Dawn) Smitski.
Wendell was very proud of his posterity which includes his grandchildren, Barbara
(Mike) Lujan, Genyce (Terry) Cottle, CJ (Melinda) Sanders, Dustin (Melanie) Sanders,
Ryan (Daniela) Sanders, Rylee (Cameron) Roed, Alvan Duckworth, Emma Talmage,
James Duckworth, Ashlee Marion, Adam (Wendy) Marion, Shonda Dennison,
Amanda Dennison, Brandon (Amber) Marion, Leanna (Brian) Carpenter, Elizabeth
Dennison, Jordan Marion, Ava Marion, Jace Marion, Riley Marion, Vivian Marion, Ryan
Marion, Michael Thompson, Taren-Layne Warfield, Cannon Warfield, Sterling
Warfield, Kaysee Marion, Christian Smitski, Kendall Sanders, Darian Sanders, Aidan
Kennedy, Naomie Marion, and Layne Marion II, great grandchildren, Kaylen, Charles,
Robert, Cody, TJ, Kaden, Cambria, Dallin, Quentin, Charlie, Chandler, Carllee, Lennon,
Ezra, Waylon, Elise, Tess, Tally, Addison, Odin, Winchester, Mackenzie, Andrew,
Angel, Tori, Berlin, Cole, Sebastian, Zayne, Adamari, Noah, Dax, Avaya, Maia, and
Elicia, and countless nieces and nephews.
The family would like to extend their gratitude to everyone who was a part of
enriching Wendell’s life and making his 90 year journey one of love and adventure.
Services for Wendell will be held Saturday October 23, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. PDT at
Victor Valley Mortuary 15609 11th St. Victorville, CA 92395. To join via Zoom :
bighelperzoom.com. Please download the Zoom app in order to view the service.
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