Harold T. "Reds" Mendenhall, Sr.

I am so sorry to hear about Reds passing. He was a good man. I will miss cutting his hair an seeing him around Ware. May you find peace knowing he is at peace now.

I remember hearing stories about the terrible accident that the father of a guy I was just getting to know in high school had recently had. The accident had left him in a coma for several months and had severely damaged his body. Though they did not expect him to live he somehow managed to survive. He woke up to find himself paralyzed from the waist down, a paraplegic. After many months of numerous surgeries, various hospital and rehabilitation hospital stays he was coming home. By then I had completely fallen for his son who is now my husband.
I remember meeting him for the first time. I was in awe of his spirit and determination. The hours he spent wrestling with the braces for his legs so he could practice walking in the make shift parallel bars that were set up in his house. The unending amount of physical therapy needed to stretch the muscles in his legs. The difficulty he had getting down to the floor to lift weights that were attached to wheelchair wheels so they wouldn’t crush him if he dropped them. He lifted them more and more each time to strengthen his upper body. Then he would struggle to get back into his wheelchair. But what I remember most is that I never heard him complain or have any self-pity. He said through all his time in rehab he saw people who were far worse off than he was. He was glad to have what he had.
After his son and I were married there were many nights we would get a call asking us to come help pick him up off the floor because his leg spasms would throw him out of his chair, especially when he tried to get in bed. When it came time to build our house we built a room on for him to live with us.
I remember the tear of pride in his eyes the first time he held his first grandson, his namesake. Then the same with his next grandson and then again with his only granddaughter. The same when each of them started their first day of school, and each graduation, and wedding. He was honored to have been able to live with them and watch them grow up, to be there for all their ups and downs, accidents, injuries, triumphs and mishaps. Even if it meant them getting him up at 3 in the morning because they couldn’t open their Christmas presents before he came over to watch, or getting soaked with the hose every time he came past the garage. And then came the joy of him holding each of his great-grandchildren and watching them grow.
I think he has been an inspiration for all of us, as well as everyone else who knew him. He has given all of us a deeper respect for the word “handicapped”. I remember getting a call from the school about the moving senior speech our son gave about the difficulties of struggling with being handicapped that he had watched first hand throughout the years. Pappy was a role model for Never Give Up and Count Your Blessings. Then when you would think he had been through enough, he was in another accident that would have paralyzed him if he were not already paralyzed. After 30 years of learning how to do things one way he now had to go through it all over again to learn how to do them the opposite way because what used to be the strong side was now the weaker side. As years went on it became more difficult for him to do his normal activities, yet, he still did not complain. When I would ask him how he was doing today he would often reply by saying “When I woke up this morning I said ‘Damn, I woke up again!’ so I guess I’ll just make the best of it.” He won’t have to say that again. After 46 years of fighting the battle he is finally at peace.
I hope we will all think of Pappy when we think things aren’t going the way we want them to and start feeling sorry for ourselves. He would tell you that there is always someone out there who is far worse off than you are and to never give up, count your blessings and to just make the best of it. Then he would tell you, “I’ll catch you on the flip flop and if you see anybody out there that you think might know me, you tell ‘em old Pappy said hey!”

Sorry to hear of Reds' passing. It was a privilege having Red's in my life while growing up in Parkesburg. Red's and my Dad were very close, as they were married to two special women that were cousins. Reds always made me laugh and was a fun person to be around. When my Dad was ill, we spent a year in Florida, which did not help my father's health, and Reds and family came to visit. He would try to cheer my Dad in everyway he could. My Dad passed away at the age of 34, I was only 16, but still remember the day it all happened to Reds, how tragic, but this brave man never gave up and I watched him doing the make shift parallel bars at home and I even met his therapist. As I later married, I had one daughter and Reds adored her. I will never forget the memories and times spent with "Reds".
Redsie and family, may you find peace, knowing your "Dad" is at peace now.

Our Love and Prayers,
Doris and Barry

So sorry to hear of Uncle Red's passing. He was a strong man who overcame his disability with grace and dignity. He is a new angel with my mom, his sister Mary Alice. So unbeivable that they both passed within a week of one another. My prayers to his family and to his sister Aunt Dot, and brothers Uncle Shorty and Uncle Paul. They need strength and love to help them get through losing a sister and a brother this last week. I will take confort in knowing they are flying high together with their parents and siblings.

Debbie Bender Mapps
Runnemede, NJ

We knew Reds when we were growing up. Our parents were good freinds and I will remember him laughing and joking and pranking us every chance he got. Bless you both for the care and love you gave him over the years.
Terry & Sherry

I am so sorry for your loss. My Prayers and Thoughts are with all of you.

We all loved Reds at Ware. He was a friend to everyone. He accepted himself and the predicament he was in and never complained. He was a spiritual man and went to my Bible Class every Thursday. I also worked out with Reds in our fitness center. He pushed me to do better and I pushed him and we both laughed as we got fitter. The nurses and nurse assistants loved Reds. He made us all feel important but especially them. He loved women and that is why so many of them spontaneously went up and hugged him. Two guys in our Men's group on Monday cried when they heard of the death of Reds. He was a real leader and sparked us to do many things. We all miss him. May his family be blessed. He was at home with his son and daughter-in-law for many years before coming to Ware. As difficult as that must have been, that had to be a rare gift, especally to the grandchildren. There is a hole in our hearts at Ware. We miss Reds.

Juanita and family I am so sorry to hear about your father in law, you are in my prayers and thoughts. God Bless

My deepest sympathy for your loss . All of the staff at Ware send out prayers.
I'll always remember his baseball talks while I cared for him. Reds was special.