Rodney A. Mendenhall

A Mass of Christian burial for Rodney A. Mendenhall, age 87, will be at 11:00am on Saturday, January 14, 2017 at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Rochester. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at Oakwood East Cemetery. Rodney Arnold Mendenhall was born on February 14, 1929 in Orangeburg, SC to Allen and Leila (McDuff) Mendenhall. He passed away on January 9, 2017 at the Homestead in Rochester. Rodney graduated from Wilkerson High School in Orangeburg. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1949 from South Carolina St. University and a Masters of Science in 1951. Rodney was drafted into the Army during the Korean War. He taught classes in the service and later moved to Officer Training School at Ft. Benning, GA. He graduated in the top ten of his OCS class and served as a Supply Officer during the war. After his discharge, he taught high school science in Barnwell, SC and returned to college and received his Education Certificate. Rodney then went on to complete post graduate work at the University of Illinois and Penn State. On February 19, 1957, he married Virginia Gibson in West Columbia, SC. He taught math and electronics in Denmark, SC and moved to Rochester in 1965 to teach Engineering Technology at Rochester Community College. He enjoyed spending time with his family, wood carving and woodworking, tennis, model trains and football. Survivors include his wife, Virginia Mendenhall of Rochester and his son, Rod (Carol) Mendenhall of Oakdale, MN; sister, Gloria (Curtis) Richardson of Lanham, MD; several nieces and nephews and his grand dog, Simon. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Marion and Kenneth. Memorials are suggested to Rochester Area Foundation or the Safe Haven Pet Shelter. Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes 5421 Royal Place NW Rochester, MN 55901 www.ranfranzandvinefh.com