Wendell Dale Pirtle

The funeral service was held 10:30 AM, Friday, April 8, 2005 at Behner Funeral Home. Rev. Harlan "Frosty" Van Voorst l officiated. Burial followed in Memorial Lawn Cemetery with military rites in Fairfield, IA.

Family visitation was held 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM, Thursday, April 7, at Behner Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to Sunnybrook Assisted Living or First Christian Church in Packwood in care of Anita Loving, 406 Heatherwood Circle, Fairfield, IA 52556.

Wendell Pirtle was born on May 12, 1922 in Bloomfield, Iowa, the son of William Floyd and Fauntella (Nichols) Pirtle. He married Mary Frances Altman August 6, 1944 in Packwood, IA. She died October 4, 1994

Wendell graduated from Davis County High School in Bloomfield and then attended Iowa State University for one year, until he enlisted in the Air Force. Wendell served in WWII as a B-24 Bomber Pilot and flew many overseas missions, including over Normandy on D-Day. After his tour of duty, he was a flight instructor in Waco, TX. Wendell then served as a member of the Air Force Reserve for a number of years.

Wendell and Mary Frances lived in Fairfield since 1954. They owned and operated the Packwood Grocery Store for 2 years. He also owned Pirtle Cabinet Shop and built custom cabinetry for many years. Wendell worked for the Iowa Army Ammunitions Plant in Middletown on Line One, the nuclear energy line from 1958 until the line closed in 1974. He then transferred to the Rock Island Arsenal and worked there until he retired in December of 1982. He was a member of the First Christian Church in Packwood, IA.

Wendell was a kind, quiet, gentle, devoted and loving husband, father and friend. His hobbies included woodworking and he had many grandfather clocks and other furniture items. Wendell also enjoyed rock and arrow-head hunting on family vacations and raising Irish Setters with his daughter. After his retirement, Wendell and Mary Frances enjoyed traveling.

Survivors include their daughter, Anita Ann Pirtle Loving and husband, Robert of Fairfield, two granddaughters; Abaigeal "Abbi" Ann Loving and Aubreann Mary Frances Loving. They were his pride and joy. Also included are a nephew, Randy Westbrook of Fairfield and two nieces, Rebecca Prior of Eau Claire, WI and Rachel May of Mt. Pleasant, IA.

Wendell was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, one sister, Juanita Westbrook, one infant brother and an infant son, Patrick Owen Pirtle.