David E. Pendleton

ST. JOHNSBURY, VT -Rev. David E. Pendleton, 60, died July 11, as the result of a bike accident in North Danville, VT.

David was born in Pasadena, California Oct. 16, 1949, the son of Helen Mulcahy Pendleton and David E. Pendleton Sr. Soon after his family moved back to Winthrop, MA where David grew up and attended local schools. He served in the Army, was stationed in Germany during the Vietnam War and then returned to the Boston area and earned a degree in Economics from the University of Massachusetts, Boston.

For many years David held a variety of positions that contributed to his well-rounded life. He was a car salesman, ran his own rental car business, installed sunroofs, was a professional hypnotist, and operated his own moving business among other careers prior to attending seminary.

In 1996 David received his Masters of Divinity degree from the Lancaster Seminary in Lancaster, PA. Following his ordination he served the Standish Congregational United Church of Christ of Standish, Maine. He then moved to Lancaster, NH to serve as pastor of the Lancaster Congregational United Church of Christ from 1999 until 2004.  Most recently David served as pastor of the First Congregational United Church of Christ, Haverhill, NH.

David served on boards and committees of the New Hampshire Conference of the United Church of Christ and the Grafton-Orange Association of the United Church of Christ. He was a member of several clergy groups and a board member of the Kingdom Recovery Center in St. Johnsbury, Vt.

Family members, friends and church members knew David to be soft spoken and compassionate, quiet and gentle by nature, and strong in faith. He believed that God guided his life and that our primary role in life is to honor God and love and support one another.

David's family includes his wife Abby Joy Pollender of St. Johnsbury, his son Alexander Pendleton of Manchester, NH, his daughter Danielle Pendleton of Sharon, MA, and Abby's daughters Molly, Ann and Kara Goolman of St. Johnsbury. He also leaves his siblings Charles Wheelock and his wife Rosalie of, Forest, VA; Pol Wheelock and wife Anita Anderson of Fairfield, ME; Diane Pendleton and her husband Bill Shanabruch of Richmond, VA; Suzanne Pendleton Rechis, and her husband Sal Rechis of Round Rock, TX; John Pendleton, and his wife Christine Jillson of Newton, MA and several cousins, nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by, his parents and his brother Thomas Pendleton.

David's family is extremely grateful for assistance and support of so many friends and strangers who joined in the search for him. The professionalism and kindness of Sgt. Clement Houde and other members of the St. Johnsbury Police Department and Vermont State Police are also greatly appreciated.

A memorial service for David will be held, Saturday, July 24 at 2:00 p.m. at the Lancaster Congregational United Church of Christ, 142 Main St., Lancaster, NH. Friends are invited to join David's family for a gathering in honor of David at his home at 401 Summer St., St. Johnsbury, VT on Friday, July 23 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

In honor of David, people may make a donation to The Kingdom Recovery Center at 297 Summer St., St. Johnsbury, VT 05819.