Wednesday, April 14, 2021

Dude Pendergraft


(From Parker Mortuary)

Durard “Dude” Ivan Pendergraft, age 89, Joplin, passed away on Tuesday, April 13, 2021 at Mercy Hospital Joplin.

Dude was born July 9, 1931 in Grove, Oklahoma, son of the late Thomas Powell Pendergraft and Jessie Louise (Sherman) Pendergraft. 

He grew up in the Cowskin Prairie area of N.E. Oklahoma, as well as in McDonald County, where he learned a love of the land and a passion for hard work. He briefly worked at Boeing Aircraft in Wichita prior to joining the military. He served in the United States Army from 1952-1954 as a heavy equipment operator in the Corp of Engineers who helped with the rebuilding of Germany after World War II.






 

He then moved to Joplin, where he and his wife Carolyn opened Dude's Donuts on Main Street in 1954. Dude and Carolyn raised their children and a successful business at Dude’s, rebuilding after the Joplin tornado. 

Not one to let a challenge pass him by, he earned his pilot’s license in the mid-1960s and enjoyed flying with both friends and family. He was an active and faithful member of the Church of Christ, attending several local congregations over his lifetime.

In addition to his parents and wife Carolyn, Dude was preceded in death by his nine brothers and sisters.

Survivors include his children, A. Powell Pendergraft and wife Kim of Buda, Texas, D. Allen Pendergraft and wife Carrie of Joplin, and James I. Pendergraft and wife Betsy of Carthage; grandchildren, Jared Pendergraft of Buda, Kayla Martinez (Jorge) of Cibolo, Texas, Thomas Pendergraft (Chelsea) of Seneca, Jonathan Pendergraft (Laurel) of Marshfield, Missouri, Rose Peacock (John) of Joplin, Missouri, Hannah Coberley (Josh) of Jane, Missouri, Jessie Harrington (Walter) of Memphis, Tennessee, and Luke Pendergraft of Carthage; great-grandchildren, Holly, Owen, Clara, and Hank; several nieces, nephews, and other extended family.

Memorial service will be Friday, April 16, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. at 26th Street Church of Christ with Jake King and Richard Chambers officiating. The family will visit with friends following the service.

The family requests that memorial contributions be made to Fair Haven Children’s Home care of Parker Mortuary.

Inurnment of his ashes will be held privately at a later date at Osborne Memorial Cemetery.

***
Advertisement

5:41: Stories from the Joplin Tornado by Randy Turner and John Hacker, the expanded 10th anniversary edition with 528 pages of stories and photos, is available now at Amazon.

No comments:

Post a Comment