John William Pendergrast

Asheville - John William Pendergrast, 84, of 14 Skyland Circle, died Tuesday March 18, 2003 at the Asheville V.A. Medical Center. He was born in Cleveland, OH, raised in Jackson, TN and had resided in Buncombe County since 1944. He was owner and operator of Skyland Cleaners and former manager of Minico Cleaners and Laundry. After his retirement he was a consultant to other laundries in the Asheville area and was recognized as an expert dry cleaning authority. He was a member of St. Eugenes Catholic Church. He was a U.S. Army veteran serving in the Korean War and in WW II with the 13th Airborne as a paratrooper. He was a lifetime member of VFW Post 891. Mr. Pendergrast was a son of the late Lexie and Mary Hayes Pendergrast of Jackson, TN. He was descended from the Sir Maurice de Prendergast family of South Wales. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Ray Pendergrast. Mr. Pendergrast is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 58 years, Catherine Wood Pendergrast of the home; daughters, Sandra Kaye Smith of Pensacola, FL and Mary Annette McKinney and husband, Bill of Charlotte; brother, Charles Pendergrast and wife, Marlene of Orlando, FL; sisters-in-law, Gladys Young of Asheville and Geraldine Pendergrast of Augusta, GA; cousin, Betty Sue Pendergrast of Memphis; niece, Polly Manuay of Palalka and nephew, John Pendergrast and wife, Shelle of Melbourne Beach, FL. He was the proud grandfather of three grandchildren, Chris Smith of Gray, TN, Jason McKinney and wife, Lori of Asheville and Amy McKinney of West Palm Beach, FL; seven great grandchildren, Samantha, Adam, Catie and Eric Smith of Gray, TN and Taylor, Brielle and Jasmine McKinney of Asheville. The children lovingly remember him for his pockets full of candy and coins and their many fishing, camping and site-seeing trips. His family and many friends will remember Mr. Pendergrast for his love of life and laughter. He and Mrs. Pendergrast enjoyed the many activities and outings with the Woodfin Golden Age Club. Mr. Pendergrast never met a stranger. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Ashelawn Gardens of Memory with Father Frank Cancro and the Rev. Jerry Wilson officiating. Military graveside rites will be conducted by the Buncombe County Veterans Memorial Team. Pallbearers will be Chris Smith, Bill McKinney, Jason McKinney, Mike Brown, Tommy Greene and Mark Atkinson. Honorary pallbearers will be Wayne Mathis, Howard Roberts, Buddy Penland, Everett Gosnell, Braun Brookshire, Jim Woods, Ken Banks and lifelong friend since W.W.II, Dick Timmons of Boca Raton, FL. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at Anders-Rice Funeral Home. The Pendergrast family would like to express their sincere appreciation and heart-felt graitude to all the nurses, nurses aids and doctors at the V.A. Medical Center and nursing home. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the: American Lung Association, 31 College Place, Asheville, NC 28801.