Wendell F. Stewart

RICHMOND, Ind. - Wendell F. Stewart, age 95, of Richmond, passed away Friday, September 9, 2011, at his home in Richmond. He was born April 14, 1916, in Bowersville, Ohio, to Fota Alfonso and Lulu Moon Stewart and lived the last 50 years in Richmond. Wendell graduated from Bowersville High School where he met his future wife, Mildred Irene Heinz whom he would marry four years later after his completion of college. He graduated from Ohio State University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1939, and in the same year Wendell and Mildred were married. They were married for 71 years. Wendell began his career at Batelle Memorial Institute of Science and Technology in Columbus, Ohio, performing discovery research in semiconductors. After several years there he had two children, Linda Diane Stewart and Jonathan Stewart. Later he relocated his family to Yardley, Pennsylvania, with the Saint Regis Paper Company where he was quickly promoted to Chief Engineer. Later his company offered him the position of Plant Manager for a new manufacturing facility in Richmond, Indiana, developing specialty techniques in vacuum forming products. The Richmond plant was making parts that were sold to a company eventually owned by Ford Motor Company in Connersville. At the same time he became an Independent Consultant for Ford (Connersville) and soon to other companies located in various places in Canada, South America and Europe, where he would take the family to live for periods of time. Ford soon became aware of this which led them to offer Wendell a senior position in the Advanced Design Engineering Group in Connersville. He worked at Ford until his retirement in the early 1970's. Wendell then set up a new venture in Connersville pioneering in production of ethanol from corn and separately a Solvent Recovery Plant doing work for Ford'again. He was an active member and supporter of Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church on North 11th and A St. where he served as an elder for many years. Wendell and Mildred were active in gardening and flower growing, specializing in hybridizing daylily flowers. Wendell and Mildred tended a large garden on Deerlick Farms thanks to the kindness of family friends Earl, Louise and son Mark Alexander of Middleboro, Indiana. From here came the vegetables each year which were shared with friends. Also, it was here that much of the daylily hybridizing took place. He and his wife developed new daylily colors and forms as an interest for many years. The beautiful yellow day lilies seen all around the downtown area were a specially developed variety, all from their gardens and generously donated to the city of Richmond. Wendell's hobbies over the years varied from hunting and fishing, photography, gardening and traveling. He took his family on trips to many interesting places over the years, covering most of the places that avid travelers visit in the world, making photo journals along the way which he loved sharing with his friends and family. Other skills included throwing pottery, carpentry including making fine quality furniture for the home. Wendell enjoyed learning and teaching and took every opportunity to expose the children to learning experiences by taking his family with him on business trips to many places including Montreal, Brazil and Italy, sometimes staying for months at a time. He was always willing to share his time and wisdom to help his family and others, leaving numerous persons with stories of life changing decisions made as a result of his patient guidance and encouragement. Survivors include his wife, Mildred; daughter, Linda Stewart-Amy and her husband Stephen Amy of Smithfield, Virginia; son, Jonathan C. Stewart and his wife Tina Raham Stewart of Houston, Texas; granddaughter, Laura Justice and Steven Farrington of Chicago; brother-in-law, Floyd Heinz and his wife Geneva of Jamestown, Ohio ; nephews, Roger Little and his wife Sally of St. Petersburg, Florida, Elden Heinz Jr. and his wife Irma, Larry Heinz and his wife Donna, and Ron Heinz all of Jamestown, Ohio, and Jay Warren Heinz and his wife Donna of Xenia, Ohio; nieces, Joy Little Tobias and her husband Jan of Waynesboro, Virginia, and Bonnie Heinz Weimar of Bowersville, Ohio; and numerous great nieces and nephews and their spouses and children; and many friends; his cat named 'Kitty-Kitty' and a grand-doggy, 'Pupplette' of Houston. He was preceded in passing by his parents of Bowersville; one sister, Orsedee Little of St. Petersburg, Florida; and brothers-in-law, Marlin Heinz and his wife Bernice, Elden Sr. Heinz and his wife Bernice, and Kenny Heinz and his wife Velma, all of Jamestown, Ohio. Visitation for Wendell F. Stewart will be from 5-7:00 p.m. Thursday, September 15, 2011, at Doan & Mills Funeral Home, 790 National Road West, Richmond. Funeral service will be at 1:00 p.m. Friday, September 16, 2011, at Doan & Mills Funeral Home with Rev. Joseph T. Fields officiating. Burial will be in Earlham Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family via the guest book at www.doanmillsfuneralhome.com. The obituary may be found here also.

Wendell F. Stewart

April 14, 1916 - September 9, 2011