MULLENDORE, David L. - b. January 20, 1873 - d. June 2, 1947

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(A clipping from Howard Newspaper June 12, 1947)

OBITUARY – MULLENDORE  -Prepared by Rev. D. Wright Lunsford, Pastor Central Christian Church, Wichita, Kansas.

David L. Mullendore, president of the Production Credit Corporation of Wichita and former member of the Kansa legislature, was born January 20, 1873, near Franklin, Indiana, to John and Mary Mullendore, the fourth of thirteen children.  About a year ago, he suffered a stroke but after a few months of convalescence, he returned to active work with the Farm Credit Administration.  Although he was 74 years of age he continued in active service to the farmers of this 9th Federal Reserve district up until the time of his very sudden death Monday, June 2,.  His death came while he was attending a meeting of directors and other officers of Western Oklahoma Production Credit Association at Alva, Oklahoma.  After opening the meeting and making a short speech he turned it over to Harry H. Olden of Wichita, the treasurer of the Production Credit Corporation.  A few minutes after he had turned the meeting over to Mr. Olden, he died of a cerebral hemorrhage as he sat in the meeting.  Such was the courage and perseverance of this man.
He can rightly be called one of the pioneers of Kansas as he came with his parents to Elk County, Kansas, at the age of nine years.  He lived near Howard, Kansas, for nearly 65 years and helped develop Elk county and southeastern Kansas.  He was a strong booster of his home county and his home town of Howard.  Even while living in Wichita he retained membership in the Howard Chamber of Commerce and contributed liberally to many civic improvements in Howard and Elk county.   He was generous toward the Red Cross and many other worthy calls upon his resources.  He was responsible for the opening of a local office of the Farm Credit Association in Howard. Even though he was a great booster of his own state, county and home town he was a man of broad sympathies and a world minded citizen.  People were his friends because he loved people.  People were his greatest pleasure.  He loved people as his Master loved people.  He liked to talk with people. He liked to help people.  His work was a joy to him because he was constantly helping people.  One of his life long friends came to ho one day and said;; "Mr. Mullendore, my good lick began when I met you."  He expressed what many another man has felt. For no matter how bad the Mr. Mullendore was always confident it would be better tomorrow.  No matter how much trouble people faced he knew that there was a way through if you would just find it and hit it hard enough.  He took great pride in the record of the 9th District Production Credit Corporation.  He saved or helped many farmers save their ranches during drought years in Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, and New Mexico.  He was so busy during those years of the drought that he would work through his time and on late into the night to try to help farmers find victory instead of defeat.  During the fourteen years, he was president of the 9th District Production Credit Corporation his district never ranked below third place and usually fist or second place in service and efficiency in the number of loans made and the lowest percentage of loss.  He was a man-self made through hard work, struggle and push, who bred confidence in other men.  His constant smile and cheerful disposition made him loved and admired by everyone.  He always had a glad hand clasp for everyone.  His firm step and confident faith in men helped his fellow men to succeed.  He served three terms in the Kansas Legislature 1927-31.
He was one of only three of the original twelve presidents of the twelve Production Credit Corporations in the United States.  His opinion was often sough by livestock men and farmers and ranchers over a wide territory.  He was most unselfish in giving the best advice he could and the best service possible to his fellow men.  He was a man who loved his work to the end and he said many times " When I can no longer do my fellow men any good, I don't want to stay here any longer."  He died the way he had loved – in active service.  This is the way he wanted it, for he never lost the pioneering spirit.
Early in his young manhood he united with the First Christian church of Howard, where he continued to be a member until his death.  He was a man who loved his God  and showed it by his constant love for, and unselfish service of, his fellow men.  He followed his Master in that he ofren denied himself that he might better serve others.  For this pioneer Christian rancher to die simply means more pioneering with Christ his Savior in that other land of real pioneers who walk and talk with God.  Christianity for him was as practical as your neighbor's needs.  He lived his religion day and night.
Mr. Mullendore was a member of the Blue Lodge Masons at Howard, Kansas, and a Scottish Rite Mason in the Wichita Consistory.  For several years he was a member of the Midian Temple Shriners in Wichita.  Throughout a long life he was greatly interested in Masonic work and was prominent Masonic circles.
He was a devoted family man.  His home was one of hospitality.  He enjoyed having his friends in to dinner. He was about 23 years of age when he was united in marriage to Miss Mettie B. Kellam of Howard, Kansas, on March 1, 1896.  To this union were born two sons, Harold, a banker of Miami, Oklahoma, and Noel, an attorney of Howard.  His younger brothers say he had much to do in rearing them after their mother's death.  His good wife has been a constant blessing to him through the years sharing his joys and sorrows with true pioneer courage. The family celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary one year age last March 1, at the ranch home heat Howard.  It was a memorable occasion shared by many members of the family.  In addition to his two sons and widow he is survived by two grandsons: John Mullendore, a student at Oklahoma University, Norman, Oklahoma, and C. H. Mullendore, Jr., a high school graduate of Miami; one sister, Mrs. Hallie Elliott of Howard, Kansas; and three brothers; Otto V. Mullendore of Stillwater, Oklahoma, Ray F. Mullendore of Hominy, Oklahoma, and William C. Mulledore of Los Angeles, California.  He was also preceded in death by two other brothers,  E. C. and Carl Mullendore.
With his elder brother, the late E. C. Mullendore, he made the run into the Cherokee strip and claimed a homestead.  He ever kept that pioneer spirit even to his death.
Following the service he was laid to rest in the Howard cemetery in his own beloved county.
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Funeral services were held at a chapel in Wichita last Thursday morning, June 5, where hundreds of Wichita friends and friends from many places over the southwest paid their last respects.  The body was then brought to Howard and services were held here at the Methodist church at 2:30 p. m., conducted by Revs. C. F. Jenkins and Raymond D. Laver.  The music was furnished by a quartet composed of Mrs. John Garison, Mrs. H. C. Staley, Virgil Munsinger and Jess Barger, with Mrs. Ray Perkins accompanist. The Pall bearers were late associates of Mr. Mullendore in the Wichita office of the PCC, as follows, A. J. Troup, Harry H. Olden, Harold Miles, Harold Sweetland, Glenn Dark and Raymond Wright.
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Out of town relatives attending the Mullendore funeral last Thursday were Mr. and Mrs. O. V. Mullendore and daughter, Joan, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Mullendore, all of Stillwater, Oklahoma;  Mr. and Mrs. Fred Lowry, Pawhuska, Oklahoma; Ray F. Mullendore and daughter, Marcia, Hominy, Oklahoma; Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Green, Duncan, Oklahoma; Mr. and Mrs. Fred Craddock, Pawhuska, Oklahoma; Mr. and Mrs. Carl Matthews, Tulsa, Oklahoma; Wm. C. Mullendore, Los Angeles, California; Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Westwood, Eureka; Mr. and Mrs. Irwin Elliott, Peru.

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