Melvin Edward Wendt

Long time resident Melvin Edward Wendt, 87, of Walla Walla passed away Dec 6, 2011, at Park Manor Rehabilitation Home.

Melvin was born Sept 2, 1924, in Langdon, N.D., to Wilhelm and Elizabeth Wendt. He attended Walla Walla area schools. In 1943, Melvin enlisted in the Army while in high school to serve in WW2. He was in the Asiatic Theater. After leaving the Army in 1945, he spent the next few years working as a Merchant Marine, as security in Las Vegas, Nev. and working clubs in Long Beach, Calif.

On Dec 11, 1967, he married Nancy Kay Collett. Melvin had many hobbies; his favorite was restoring Mercury Cougars which was about 27, helping his son William with his race car and working with his roses in his yard. Melvin had many different jobs: Kelty Auto Wrecking, driving tow truck and with Cochrane family, working wheat farms.

He is survived by three sons, Thomas Wendt of Orting, Wash., Michael Wendt of Phoenix, Ariz., and William Wendt of Selah, Wash.; four step-children, James Collett of Richland, Vicki Hanbaum of Tacoma, Linda Collett of Salem, Ore., and Brenda Garrison of Grand Island, Neb.; 12 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Viola Oman of Walla Walla. He was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy Wendt; his father, Wilhelm Wendt; and mother, Elizabeth Wendt; 2 brothers, Ernest Wendt & Alvin Wendt and 4 sisters, Margaret Levens, Pearl FaGalde, Verna Elder & Valerie Hardin.

The graveside service will be Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012, at 12 p.m. noon at Mountain View Cemetery, 2120 S. 2nd St. with Chaplin Don Schack of the VFW officiating. Military honors will be presented by the Yakama Warriors Association, Toppenish, Wash. Following the service, a get-together will be at the VFW Post 992 on 102 N. Colville, Walla Walla. Memorial donation may be made to the American Cancer Society or the VFW through Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder, Walla Walla, WA.