Leslie "Les" McClendon
Newton - Les's life began on February 23, 1935, the son of
Harlan McClendon and Opal (Miller) Johnson in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He was
13 years old when he accepted the Lord as his Savior in a small Baptist church
in Los Alamos, New Mexico. He attended Los Alamos schools and graduated with a
degree in English from New Mexico Western University in Silver City, New
Mexico.
At age 17 he enlisted in the US Marine Corps and served as a
sergeant in the Korean War for four years from January 1952 to January 1956. He
was awarded the badge of expert marksmanship. When he returned home, he married
Teresa Ann Gonzales on August 18, 1956 in Los Alamos, New Mexico. Les loved
outdoor activities including gardening, fishing, and hunting.
He taught English in several high schools and later became a
jeweler in Richardson, Texas. Les and Teresa lived there for 32 years. When he
retired, they moved to Newton, Kansas where they were members of Koerner
Heights Church. He volunteered to teach Release Time Bible School and served at
Source of Light, a correspondence prison ministry. He loved reading and
memorizing Scripture. One of the legacies that he leaves is his twenty-plus
Bibles that were full of highlighted and cross- referenced, handwritten notes.
He devoted his life to reading and studying God's Word.
His loving family includes his wife of 65 years, Teresa of
the home; children, Steve McClendon (Ursula) of Marble Falls, Texas, Byron
McClendon (Cindy) of Carrollton, Texas, Elizabeth Claassen (Greg) of Whitewater,
Kansas, David McClendon of Richardson, Texas; 8 grandchildren and 5
great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his father, Harlan McClendon and
his mother, Opal (McClendon) Johnson. Les passed away peacefully into his
loving Savior's arms on Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at the age of 86 years old.
His family will gather with friends on Thursday, October 21,
from 5-7 p.m. at Lamb Funeral Home, 120 S. Main, Whitewater, Kansas. Private
internment will be held in Green Valley Cemetery in Furley, Kansas.
Memorial contributions may be directed to NewSpring Church's
Bible Fund which distributes thousands of Bibles internationally or Good
Shepherd Hospice in care of Lamb Funeral Home, P.O. Box 358, Whitewater, Kansas
67154. Please sign his online guest book and leave a memory of Les at
www.yazelmeglifh.com.
