Rev. Paul Bendit
November 29, 1926 — April 25, 2017
Rev. Paul D. Bendit, 90, of Moline, IL, died Tuesday, April 25, 2017, at Heartland Health Care Center, Moline.
A family directed memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 29, 2017, at First United Presbyterian Church, 801 16th Street, Moline. Cremation rites have been accorded and inurnment will be at the National Cemetery at the Rock Island Arsenal at a later date. Memorials may be made to First United Presbyterian Church. Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, Ltd., Moline, is assisting the family with arrangements.
Paul was born on November 29, 1926, in Chicago, IL, the son of Paul and Claudia Thoma Bendit, Sr. He attended music school in Chicago, IL, and graduated from the Eden Theology Seminary in St. Louis on June 14, 1954, with a Master in Divinity. He married Ruth Sponsel on September 26, 1954, in Hamilton, OH, and she preceded him in death in January of 2005. Paul later married Ivola “Ivy” E. James Talbert on September 21, 2009, in Moline.
Paul served at the following UCC churches: Wells, MN, Lester Prairie, MN, Monticello, IA, Tiffin, OH, Lebanon, IN, Browns Wonder, IN, Hartington, NE, Savannah, IL, and Moline, IL, where he served as a pastor and Sunday school teacher for United Church of Christ and was a member of First United Presbyterian Church in Moline.
Paul was a veteran, having proudly served in the United States Army in the Philipines. He enjoyed both indoor and outdoor gardening, square dancing, and traveling. He liked to work with tools and could fix almost anything. Also, he enjoyed classical music and reading his theology book collection.
Paul lived for the Lord, served others in several communities as a pastor, loved music and theatre, good food, an occasional glass of red wine, had a sweet tooth, enjoyed playing cards and Scrabble, and was a most amazing, loving father and husband. He lived a full, complete life in every way, and will be remembered and missed as a loving man, a leader, protector and role model.
Survivors include his wife, Ivy; sons, Mark A. (Becky L.) Bendit, Gastonia, NC, and Stephen J. Bendit, Boulder, CO; sisters, Katherine Hein, Santa Barbara, CA, and Claudette (Howard) Ponder, Indianapolis, IN.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; and sister, Lynette Bendit.
Memories may be shared online by visiting esterdahl.com.