William R. Wendt of South Leland, N.C., and formerly of Warwick, N.Y., passed away from complications due to COVID-19 on Sunday, Aug. 29, 2021, at New Hanover Regional Medical Center on Wilmington, N.C. He was 88 years old.
Born September 8, 1932, in Brooklyn, he was the son of William R. Wendt Sr. and Mary A. Wendt (nee Monahan).
For those of us who were blessed to have him in our lives know what an amazing man he truly was. A man who loved life, lighting up the room with his laughter, his amazing smile, his sparkly bright blue eyes and his quick wit.
He was always positive no matter the circumstance and cherished his wife every second of everyday. His tremendous love for his wife, children, grandchildren, his many nieces and nephews and his deep continued faith in God was unprecedented.
Although he was not ready to leave us, and we are not ready to let him go, we have faith he is with God in eternal peace.
He is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Geraldine A. Wendt (nee Ferrara) at home; his son James W. Wendt and his life partner Susan Barry of Greenwood Lake; daughter Eileen M. Shea and her husband Andrew of Warwick; daughter Lorraine A. McAbee and her husband Bill of Leland, N.C.; and son Christopher J. Wendt and his wife Kendra of Warwick; 11 grandchildren: Emilee, Abigail, Isabel, Meaghan, Patrick, Christopher, Connor, Kelly, Charlotte, Clair and Aislin.
He was predeceased by his son, Jared C. Wendt (2017), his parents and his three sisters: Margaret Feil, Ellen McGrath, Bernice Patterson, and brother, Robert Wendt.
William served in the Air Force during the Korean War. He retired in 1985 as a detective for the Nassau County Police Department and served as trustee of the Nassau County PBA as well as serving as a First Vice President of the Nassau County Detectives Association.
William was currently a parishioner of the Basilica Shrine of Saint Mary’s in Wilmington, N.C., and formally attended Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church, also in Wilmington.
He was an active member of St. Stephen Church in Warwick for many years and was a Past Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus Council #4952 and was a past Faithful Navigator of the Knights 4th Degree.
Also, an avid golfer he was a member of Magnolia Greens Senior Golf Tour.
The family will receive friends for visitation on Friday, Sept. 17, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Lazear-Smith & Vander Plaat Memorial Home, 17 Oakland Ave., Warwick.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 18, at St. Stephen RC Church, 75 Sanfordville Road, Warwick, followed by interment in Warwick Cemetery.
Memorial contributions in his memory may be made to JDR at 1015 Ashes Drive #101 Wilmington, NC 28405 (910)509-9793 or at www.jdrf.org.
Arrangements were made by Lazear-Smith & Vander Plaat Memorial Home, 17 Oakland Avenue, Warwick. To send an online condolence, visitwww.lsvpmemorialhome.com.