Columbia
Funeral Home
Colonial Funeral Home
Visitation
Good Hope Baptist Church, Columbia, Tuesday, January 9, 2024, 12-2 pm.
Service
Good Hope Baptist Church, Columbia, Tuesday, January 9, 2024, 2 pm.
Obituary
Military Service Tribute, Honors, and Obituary
Recognizing and Honoring a Fallen Hero, Who Served Within the Mississippi National Guard. “Fallen, Yet Not Forgotten”
In recognition of our proud American tradition of honorable service which our military men and women have given to their country and our State, we honor a Fallen Hero. Our nation, our state, and the National Guard Association of MS (NGAMS) regard the memorializing of its retired military deceased as an honorable and sacred obligation.
Another great Soldier and Fallen Hero has been released from duty, passed from our ranks on January 5, 2024, and has moved on to his heavenly home. SGM W. A. “Pete” Kendrick (Ret), age 91, who served in the MSARNG within 890th Engineer Battalion, has departed and gone to a better place with our good Lord. Pete had served as 1SG and full-time AST at the Columbia unit for many years.
It takes a special person to serve within the military for their country, giving up their family time, comfort, and safety for their country, ultimately for all Americans to enjoy their freedoms, safety, and way of life. We now applaud you for your service to our country. A special message from General Douglas McArthur remains applicable today for our servicemen that have passed: “Old Soldiers never die; they just fade away”.
Rest in Peace Soldier. We applaud your patriotism, sacrifices, and brave efforts in serving our country and your family for their support of your service. We thank you for your service. Without your efforts and your families’ support, our country would not stand so boldly, shine so bright, and live so free.
You now have earned a rest, so go fly with the Angels, go rest high on that mountain; your work on earth is done. Go to heaven a-shoutin’ Love for the Father and the Son.
Another great Soldier has gone home, “Fallen, Yet Not Forgotten, Soldier for Life”.
Obituary, Visitation, and Service details:
W.A. “Pete” Kendrick, of Columbia, Mississippi, passed from this life into God’s presence on Friday, January 5, 2024 at the age of 91. He was born in Marion County as the third of four children to William Nathan and Birdie Lee Kendrick where he has remained a lifelong resident. He attended Improve schools and pursued courses at the University of Southern Mississippi. Pete was a member of Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association Board for forty-two years and served in several offices, including President. He also served on the Board of Cooperative Energy. As a member of the Columbia Lions Club for over fifty years, he served as President as well as holding other offices. He was a recipient of the Lions International Foundation Melvin Jones Fellow for outstanding humanitarian work. He served thirty-one years in the Army National Guard and retired as a Sergeant Major. Pete owned and operated the City Meat Market in Columbia for twenty years before retirement.
One of his loves was flying and he held multi-engine, instrument, and instructor ratings. Over the years, Pete taught many students how to fly and he also provided instruction at the Vo-Tech School. He enjoyed horse riding and trained horses for showing and racing. Pete had many hobbies and enjoyed gardening, playing Sudoku, playing dominoes on Monday night at Good Hope Family Life Center, and having coffee at 9:00 with his coffee buddies.
Pete loved his family and was grounded in his love for Jesus Christ. He was a dedicated, loyal, and faithful member of Good Hope Baptist Church for fifty-five years where he served as a deacon, Sunday School teacher, and past song director. Pete loved music and singing bass in church and quartet groups. He considered his faith in his Savior, Jesus Christ, to be his greatest achievement. Pete will be remembered as one of the kindest hearts with a deep conviction of right and wrong and for his ability to display great restraint in issues of controversy.
In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by a wife, Naomi Rutland Kendrick; and two brothers, Ralph Kendrick and Nathan “Tiny” Kendrick. Pete is survived by his wife, Betty Kendrick; three children, Sharon Waits, Debbie Ladd and her husband, Wayne, and David Kendrick and his wife, Suzanne; three step-children, Lori Touliatos and her husband, John, Tina Sorey and her husband, Todd, and Lisa Cannella; a sister, Opal Smith; grandchildren, Joseph Waits and his wife, Ashley, Leah Dunn and her husband, Andrew, Andrew Myers and his wife, Sophie, Carly Kendrick, Sarah Kendrick, Spero Touliatos and his wife, Lydia, Carli Walt and her husband, Gus, Cameron Basse and her husband, James, Weston Touliatos and his wife, Hannah, Lawson Touliatos, Ashlin Cannella, Saige Sorey, Zach Sorey, Gage Sorey, and Silas Sorey; seven great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
There will be a visitation for Pete at Good Hope Baptist Church on Tuesday, January 9, 2024 from 12:00pm until 2:00pm. The funeral service, officiated by Reverend Johnny Williams, will follow at 2:00pm. He will be laid to rest in the Good Hope Baptist Church Cemetery with military honors.