Rev. John Mendez

Rev. John Mendez, 89 of Charleston went home to be with the Lord on Monday, January 4, 2016 at Angels Touch Care Home in St. Albans. Born in Lynch, KY, John was a son of the late Maximino Miquez and Felipa DeJesus Maria Medina Mendez. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Peggy Dean Woodyard Mendez. He graduated from Welch High School and later served our country in the United States Air Force during World War II in Okinawa, Japan. He received his bachelor’s degree from Asbury College and his master of divinity degree from Candler School of Theology - Emory University in Atlanta, GA. He was ordained as a minister in the United Methodist Church Conference in June of 1956.The first church he served at in the West Virginia Conference was Maybeury, WV, followed by Bluewell United Methodist Church, St. Peters United Methodist Church, Princeton-First United Methodist Church; he later retired from First United Methodist Church in South Charleston. He temporarily served at St. Andrew United Methodist Church in St. Albans and the First United Methodist Church in Parkersburg. He served for five years as Superintendent of the Bluefield District of the UMC. During his tenure he served as Dean of the Bishop’s Cabinet under Bishop William Boyd Grove. He is survived by his special friend, Bonny Eskew; daughters, Gloria J. Lewis (James) of St. Albans and Tanya M. Kesner (Brent) of Charleston; son, John M. Mendez (Leah) of Myrtle Beach, SC; sisters, Thelma Voska of Winter Springs, Fla. and Maxine Counts of Deltona, Fla.; brother, Max Mendez from Port St. Lucie, Fla.; grandchildren, Jacob Long, Trapper Long, John Ryan Mendez, Erin Rimbach, Adam Mendez, Harrison Kesner and Haley Kesner and great grandchildren, Chase, Ali, Parker, John Crew, and Elin. Funeral service will be held at 1:00 pm Friday, January 8, 2016 at St. Peters United Methodist Church, 2601 Forrestal Avenue, St. Albans with Rev. Barry Moll, Bishop William Boyd Grove and Rev. Ronald McCauley officiating. Entombment will be in Cunningham Memorial Park, St. Albans. Friends may visit with the family Friday two hours prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Rev. John and Peggy Mendez Ministerial Scholarship Trust, c/o UMF of WV, PO Box 3811, Charleston, WV 25338-3811. You may also share memories or condolences with the family at www.chapmanfuneralhomes.com. Bartlett-Chapman Funeral Home, family-owned and located at 409 Sixth Avenue, St. Albans, WV 25177 is honored to serve the Mendez family.