Gerald C. Pendleton

Pendleton: Gerald C. (or, as he preferred to be called, Jerry) Pendleton died at the Casa del Sol Nursing Home on Missouri Avenue here on Monday 7, December 2009. Jerry was born on 12 August 1929 in Clinton Massachusetts to Jere K. Pendleton and Viola (Smith) Pendleton. He had two brothers: Robert (Bob) and Richard (Dick) who were older and younger than he, respectively. In 1951, he married Beverley Gardner. They had two sons: Mark born in 1954 and Jay, born in 1957. Pendleton was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in Germany in 1954 and 1955. He worked in a cabinet shop in Middleboro Massachusetts from 1955 until 1959, when he enrolled in dental school at Loma Linda University in California. Upon completion of dental school, he moved his family to Maine and set up practice, first in Rockland and later in Camden. He practiced dentistry for 33 years until retiring in 1996. In the same year, he came out as a gay man and his marriage to Beverley ended in divorce. After an initial period of adjustment, they became better friends than they ever had been while married to each other. In 1996, he also moved to Las Cruces, where he soon joined the Unitarian Universalist Church and made many dear friends. Jerry was active in the church choir and community activist organizations, such as PFLAG; he also served for two years as editor of The Normal Heart, a newsletter magazine serving the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered communities in southern NM and west TX. Jerry was a man whose heart was filled with love for those around him. He never turned a deaf ear to anyone who needed a listener; he always had time for anyone whom he felt needed help. Jerry is survived by numerous relatives: his two sons Mark of Las Cruces NM and Jay of Camden ME; three grandchildren: Angelica, Christopher and Heather Pendleton of Camden ME, Albuquerque NM and Las Cruces NM respectively, his daughter-in-law Debra Pendleton of Las Cruces NM and his former wife and lifetime friend Beverley Gardner Pendleton of Rockland ME. Also surviving him are numerous nephews, nieces, grand nephews and nieces, cousins, his brother Dick of Maryland and a host of friends who, along with his family, remember him fondly. You only live once, but if you live well, once is enough. Jerry was a man who lived well and kindly. We'll miss you, but you live in our hearts. A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church 2000 S. Solano Avenue on Sunday the 13th at 7:00 pm. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Unitarian Church of Las Cruces or to Mesilla Valley Hospice. PDF Printable Version