Eston T. Pendley

Eston T. Pendley, age 94, of Dalton, GA (formerly of Smyrna, GA) passed away Sunday, October 16, 2016 after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer’s. Funeral Services will be held 2pm Wednesday, October 19th at Floyd Road Baptist Church with Rev. Keith Collins and Rev. Preston Moore officiating. Burial will follow at Cherokee Memorial Park in Canton. The family will receive friends Wednesday morning from 10am until 12pm at West Cobb Funeral Home and Crematory in Marietta. Eston was preceded in death by his parents Altha Haygood and Levi Pendley, brothers, Furman Pendley, Cicero Ingram, Calvin Pendley, Bill Pendley and Jack Pendley, Sisters, Lemer Richards, Julie Self, Jozie Strawn and Essie Burrell. Eston was born August 14, 1922 in Marble Hill, Pickens County, GA. He graduated from Cherokee High School in 1939. His contribution to the war effort was working at Lockheed Georgia building planes. He became a licensed surveyor and worked for the Georgia Highway Department laying out some of the state’s key highways, including the iconic Scenic Highway along the west brow of Lookout Mountain. Eston had now married Kathleen Foster in 1949, and like many of his generation was looking for a better opportunity to prosper and support what was to become a growing family. With growth beginning at a rapid pace 40 miles south in Atlanta, it seemed like the perfect place to go. So after a brief time working for another surveying company, Eston began his own business – Eston Pendley and Associates in East Point, GA. For the next 43 years, this would be his passion and the company was instrumental in laying out the design for many of Metro Atlanta’s subdivisions, stores, and offices. At the age of 82, Eston decided that it was time to stop cutting brush from lines, walking miles a day, and being out in the southern heat for hours on end and retired and sold his business. In a few years, the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s led to a decision to move from their home of over 30 years to Royal Oaks in Dalton, GA to be nearer their children. He became a favorite with the staff and residents, known for his friendly “Hey, how are you?” and his never ending appetite. He was blessed in that until his last days, he still walked to the dining room for three meals a day, was able to continue feeding himself whatever he wanted, and could still converse with family and acquaintances. While work may have been Eston’s passion, part of the reason was to be able to support his family and faith. He and Kathleen were blessed with two daughters, Joy Denise in 1956 and Tammie Carol in 1959. Family vacations, reunions, weekend trips, graduations and weddings were always enjoyable and with the addition of two grandsons, it became even easier to slip away from the job to watch them interact with Mickey Mouse on a frequent basis. Eston was brought up in Arbor Hill Baptist Church in Cherokee County and took this Appalachian faith in God to his home in Atlanta where he became a member of Chattahoochee Second Baptist Church and a key part of the move of the church to Austell as Floyd Road Baptist Church. He was an active Deacon, Sunday School teacher, Trustee, and choir member and loved participating in the Christmas plays, including playing the part of an “old man” while in his late 70’s and considering it truly playing a part. Eston is survived by his wife of 67 years, Kathleen Foster Pendley of the residence, daughters and spouse Joy and Randy Sanford of Dalton, GA, Tammie Pendley of Ellijay, GA, grandchildren Russell and Jessie Sanford of Greenville, SC, and Justin and Rachel Sanford of Charleston, SC, sister Vessie Rampley of Woodstock, GA, brother and sister-in-law Eulan and Polly Pendley of Woodstock, numerous nieces and nephews and lifelong friends. Online guest book @ www.westcobbfuneralhome.com