Benjamin Irvin Pendleton, 96, of Greenwood, Indiana, passed away January 9, 2026 at Life’s Journey Hospice in Avon, Indiana. He was born November 2, 1929 in Absher to the late Benjamin and Emma (Hardwick) Pendleton.
Ben attended a one room schoolhouse in Absher and worked on the family farm until the age of 17.
He met Dollie in 1948 while working for Lancaster Lumber Co. in Sparksville. They married on September 10, 1951, in Cane Valley and moved to Greenwood, Indiana where he had a job with Arvin Industries. He and Dollie were always together in all parts of life for 69 years.
In 1952, he went to work for Allison Transmission in Indianapolis, Indiana, retiring in 1991 after 39 years. During any work furlough, he enjoyed helping others with painting and even helped build the neighbor’s home.
Ben enjoyed keeping his home and lawn excellently maintained, gardening with Dollie, reading the Adair County newspaper, watching wrestling, fishing, dirt track races, NASCAR, Indy Car racing, old movies and Westerns, watching daily world news and attending sporting or school events with the children.
He loved Dollie’s home cooked meals, preferably beans, potatoes and corn bread. However, he also liked White Castle sliders, Mrs. Curl vanilla malts, scenic drives to Columbus, Indiana for Captain D’s fish dinner, fresh brewed coffee with a cookie, and Whit’s Inn biscuits and gravy or a “Donut Tree” on his birthday. He liked Dr. Pepper, pizza with the great grandsons to talk about life, spending time with friends and family, hearing his great granddaughter sing, sitting on his front patio with anyone who wanted to visit, and he loved cherry tobacco in his pipe.
Ben and Dollie traveled a lot to visit family and went to 49 states. They also attended the World’s Fair in New York City in 1964 and 1965. The extensive garden Ben and Dollie maintained for over 50 years was a labor of love for them both and fed them well.
When asked his greatest accomplishment and biggest regret, he said his personal accomplishment was he never took a loan and never paid interest. “If you want it, you work for it, it will mean something.”
His one regret was taking a second vacation to Alaska and never making it to Hawaii with Dollie.
He is survived by his daughter in law, Kathy Pendleton; grandchildren, Susan Pendleton Ladd and Amy Pendleton; great grandchildren, Conner Ladd, Isabelle Squier, Jacob Squier, Janelle Welch and Korbyn Trimmer; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Ben was preceded in death by his wife, Dollie Marie Pendleton; son, Carl “Butch” Wayne Pendleton; and his siblings, Omer Pendleton, Lorena Weatherford, Pairlee Montgomery, Tyler Pendleton, Dellie Marie Pendleton, Eula Brockman, Wilmer Pendleton, Lois Curry and Charles “Rollin” Pendleton.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, January 24 from noon to 1 p.m. with service beginning at 1 p.m. at Wilson St. Pierre Funeral Service & Crematory, Greenwood Chapel, 481 W. Main St. Greenwood, Ind.
In lieu of flowers please make a donation to pancreatic cancer research.
