November 27, 2020, 82, Goldsboro
Edward Ronald “Ron” Mendell passed into eternal glory on November 27, 2020 after a brief illness. Ron was born in Newport, Kentucky on January 24, 1938, the only child of the late Jerome and Margie Mendell.
In high school, Ron excelled in several sports and was inducted into the Northern Kentucky High School Athletic Hall of Fame. He played football on a scholarship for the University of Cincinnati and Eastern Kentucky University where he earned undergraduate and graduate degrees.
Always an educator, Ron taught students in various settings before and after earning his doctorate from the University of Southern Mississippi. Realizing that he preferred the small college environment, he accepted a position at Mt. Olive College to develop and chair the Department of Recreation Leisure Studies. He retired from the position in 2000.
Ron was active in several professional organizations and served as the national president of the American Association for Leisure and Recreation in 1984-1985. Ron served his church, Bethel United Methodist Church, La Grange as the audio/visual technician for many years.
Ron is survived by his wife, Sandra Creech Mendell; his sons, Brian Mendell and wife Susan of Grimesland and Mark Mendell and wife, Angela of Elizabethtown; his step daughter, Cindy Weeks and husband, David of Goldsboro; step son, Chris Creech and wife, Teresa of LaGrange; granddaughters, Courtney, Lexie, Lorna, Caitlin and Casey Mendell; and grandsons, Ken and Daniel Weeks, and Luke Creech.
In addition to his parents, Ron was preceded in death by his first wife and the mother of his children, Susie Dotson Mendell; his daughter, Lisa Mendell Harris and husband, Nathan; and grandchildren, Sueanna and Trey Harris.
A funeral service will be held on Monday at 11:00 A.M. in the chapel of Shumate-Faulk Funeral Home with Rev. Ken Davenport officiating. burial will follow at Wayne Memorial Park. The family will receive friends following the service. All COVID-19 protocols will be followed including wearing of masks and social distancing.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bethel United Methodist Church, C/O of Jackie Overbee, 111 Cassedale Dr., Goldsboro, NC 27534 or Kitty Askins Hospice Center, 107 Handley Park Ct., Goldsboro, NC 27534.
Shumate-Faulk Funeral Home is serving the Mendell family and online condolences may be directed to www.shumate-faulk.com
