Obituary of Virginia Mendenhall

Virginia Caroline (Lorah) Mendenhall - 5/26/1926 – 11/19/2022 Virginia Caroline Mendenhall passed away, at the age of 96, in Tatum, New Mexico on November 19, 2022, surrounded by family and friends. Virginia was born May 12, 1926, Faxon, Comanche County, Oklahoma to Isaac Lewis Lorah and Carrie Steele Russell, the youngest of 7 children. The Great Depression caused the family to move from Oklahoma to Portales, New Mexico in about 1931. She attended all 12 years of school in Portales. This is where she met and married the love of her life, Lother 'Pee Wee' Mendenhall, on February 19, 1944 in Portales, New Mexico. They spent 70 years together through both rough times and wonderful times. Lother passed on December 30, 2013. Settling in Lovington, in 1959, they ran the Wildcat Kitchen, a school café across from Jefferson elementary, while Lother worked as a carpenter. Getting a good job in Tatum they moved in 1964. She was very dedicated to the Nazarene Church both in Lovington and Tatum and recalled time with the church family with much love and affection. She loved dancing (especially the Polka), singing, black coffee, her children and spending time with her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. She had a great love for her roots and family. She was very proud of her Pennsylvania-Dutch heritage from her Papa and her "Englishness" from her mother. She enjoyed genealogy and searching for distant family. Virginia was the last of her generation. She is pre-deceased by her parents, her husband, all of her siblings; son, Lonnie Ray Mendenhall; grandson, Cameron Jeffery Reeve; and great-grandson, Joshua Jaymes Wood. She is survived by her children: daughter - Carrie Ann (Karl) Reeve; daughter-in-law – Santita 'Sam' Arevalo Mendenhall; son – Larry (Gayla Bess) Mendenhall. Seven Grandchildren, fourteen Great-Grandchildren with one on the way She was so excited when the great-great grandchildren started showing up, she called them her "5th generation." There are too many nieces and nephews and extended family to name but she knew each and every one of them and love them all unconditionally. She has many friends in Tatum and Lovington whom she remembered with care and love, most of whom she out lived. She greatly appreciated the care and affection she received from the Hospice staff. The love and attention that she received from Sarah, Yaya, Margaret, John, and Johnathan in her final years gave her much peace, joy and happiness. Thank you to all the people of the Tatum Senior Center's "Meals to You" for the meals they provided, but more for the sweet "Hello" and little visits that brightened her days. In Lieu of flowers donations may be sent to Meals to You P.O Box. 245, Tatum, NM 88267.