Charles “Chuck” Pendleton, Sr.

Charles Pershing Pendleton Senior (Charlie/Chuck), 76, of Madison Heights VA, passed away Tuesday May 29, 2012 following a courageous two year battle with leukemia. Charlie was home, in the arms of his loving wife (Joyce Pendleton) and daughter (Grace Pendleton Thompson) and surrounded by family as he was called home to heaven.

Charles was born in Lynchburg Virginia on November 26, 1935. He graduated from EC Glass High School, Lynchburg College and NC State University. He served in the 82nd Airborne Unit in Fort Bragg, NC. During his service Charles (19 years) and Joyce (17 years old) eloped and were married in Chesterfield, SC on May 6, 1955. During his life Charlie worked for General Electric in the Lynchburg and Portsmouth areas. He also worked for and retired from Philip Morris (now Alteria) where he worked in the position of project engineer and received many awards and patents for his design work. Charlie enjoyed being active in the community and was passionately involved in organizations he believed in. He was Chairman of the Amherst Democratic Committee; the Amherst County representative to the Sixth District Democratic Committee; Chairman of the Blue Ridge 82nd Airborne Division, where he was awarded paratrooper of the year; a member of the American Legion Post 16; a charter member of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church; and currently a member of the Amherst Baptist Church. Charlie loved attending Governor Mark Warner\"™s annual Democratic pig roast at Warner\"™s farm in Fredericksburg and he and Joyce attended the 82nd Airborne week in Fort Bragg regularly. He also loved working the election polls and the Blue Ridge Airborne\"™s annual Raffle. Charlie was very talented, designing and overseeing the plans and building of three of their homes.

Charlie leaves his wife of 57 years, Joyce Bryant Pendleton; his daughters, Kathi Pendleton-Mays of Madison Heights and Grace Pendleton Thompson and husband Michael of Lynchburg; his son Charles Pendleton Jr. and wife Sharon of Madison Heights; his granddaughters, Jennifer Lynn Thompson, Christy Thompson Trotter and husband Andrew , and Kaitlyn Davis-Pendleton; his grandsons, Charleton Blake Mays and Charles Colton Pendleton; his sister-in-law, Shirley Pendleton ; his nephew, Donald Grey Pendleton, Jr. and his companion Yorkie, Phe Phe.

Charles was the son of the late James Gilliam Pendleton and Delia Hawkins Pendleton. He wae also predeceased by three brothers: James Gilliam Pendleton, Jr. former Amherst County Delegate and Attorney Donald G. Pendleton, Sr.; and Attorney Richard Spotswood Pendleton; niece, Susan Pendleton and his canine companion, Penny.

The family wishes to extend special thanks to Dr. Oldham and the nurses and clerks of Lynchburg Hematology and Oncology, the OPD nurses at VBH and Centra Hospice, Vicky Bailey, Roberta West, Laurie Anderson and Robyn Ferguson for their care of our loved one.

Memorial contributions may be made to CENTRA Hospice, 3300 Rivermont Avenue, Lynchburg, VA 24503.

Family visitation will be held 6:00 to 8:00 PM Friday, June 1, 2012 at Tharp Funeral Home in Madison Heights. Funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, June 2, 2012 at New Beginning Tabernacle, 1886 South Coolwell Road, Madison Heights with burial following in the Pendleton Family plot in Spring Hill Cemetery.

Tharp Funeral Home, Madison Heights, is assisting the family.  434-929-0055.