James Denver Mendenhall, 89, of Wheeler, formerly of Seaside, died Monday, April 26, 2010, in Portland.

He was born Oct 16, 1920, in Detroit, to Edward and Hazel (Campbell) Mendenhall.

On July 14, 1945, he married Mary McClish in Indiana. They later divorced.

During World War II, he served four years in the U.S. Army as a medic. He was a prisoner of war in Germany.

Mr. Mendenhall was self-employed in the nursery container business.

He is survived by two stepdaughters, Patti and Lynn Knavel of Elsie; a son, James D. Mendenhall Jr. of Montpelier, Ohio; three daughters and sons-in-law, Judith and Terry McDonald of Kendall, Ind., Kathy Cadle and the Rev. Roland Cadle of Hollisdaysburg, Pa., and Shirley and Dan Harm of Hudson, Ind.; eight grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two half-brothers; two half-sisters; and his companion of 22 years, Elizabeth Coates.

A graveside service with military honors will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 1 at Elsie Cemetery.

Hughes-Ransom Cremation & Mortuaries in Seaside is in charge of the arrangements.