Wendell Hall Bloomingburg age 89 passed away October 17, 2013 at Jackson Madison County General Hospital.
Mr. Bloomingburg and his identical twin brother Wayne were born July 8, 1924 in Arlington, Virginia the son of the late Elza Franklin and Sinia Mae Armstrong Bloomingburg. He graduated from Washington and Lee High School in Arlington in 1942 and he and Wayne entered Freed-Hardeman College that same year. After a year of study there, they were drafted for service in World War II. Mr. Bloomingburg served as a medic in the Third Infantry Division in North Africa, Italy and France and was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action in France on October 31, 1944. His citation states that, after enemy action had inflicted heavy casualties, Bloomingburg left his position of cover to treat and carry to safety several wounded soldiers, despite enemy fire so close it tore the first aid pocket on his belt. He was later wounded in action while his unit was in France, and was awarded the Purple Heart.
After their discharge they returned to Freed-Hardeman, entered David Lipscomb College in Nashville, graduating in the class of 1949. They were selected for highest honors that year; Wendell as Bachelor of Ugliness and Wayne as President of the student body.
He married Mary Dunham in 1947 and after he completed his Master’s Degree at Vanderbilt University he and Mary made their home in Lafayette, IN and Springfield, IL where Mr. Bloomingburg served as a full time minister at the Church of Christ in those locations.
In 1958 he came back to Freed-Hardeman as a professor of bible and history. While a teacher at Freed-Hardeman he preached at churches in nearby counties. He was a member of the Pinson Church of Christ at his death. He was very active in the Henderson Civitans, directing their community blood drives for many years.
Mr. Bloomingburg is survived by two sons, Dr. Larry Bloomingburg and wife Debra of Henderson and Randy Bloomingburg and wife Joyce of Henderson; four grandchildren, Amy Tackett of Jackson, Katie Isenberg of Oklahoma City, Bonnie Hendrix and Rachel Bloomingburg both of Henderson and two great grandchildren, Olivia Isenberg and Mary Belle Tackett. He was preceded in death by three brothers; Joe, Gene Guy and Wayne Bloomingburg.
Funeral services will be 2:00 PM Sunday at Shackelford Funeral Directors – Casey Chapel with Ben Flatt and Ray Eaton officiating and burial will follow with Military Honors at Chester County Memory Gardens.
The family will receive friends at Casey Chapel from 5 pm until 8 pm Saturday at Casey Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Wendell and Mary Bloomingburg Scholarship Fund at Freed-Hardeman or Mid-South Youth Camp c/o Freed-Hardeman.
Shackelford Funeral Directors – Casey Chapel
Henderson, TN 731-989-2421
