Charles Allen Bendele of Hye, Texas, passed away from colon cancer Saturday, October 24, 2020 at his home.

He was born April 30, 1943 in Abilene, TX, to the late Henry George and Bonnie (née Schroeder) of Blanco, TX while his father was in officer training during WWII. He was a 1961 graduate of Blanco High School. He attended the University of Texas-Austin majoring in Political Science with a minor in Business. He laid out a semester to earn more money for college when he was drafted in 1964 for the Vietnam War. He served in the US Army branch of the military from 1964 - 1966 in the Headquarters Company 3/33rd Third Armored Division stationed at Ayers Kaserne at Kirch-Gons, Germany. He earned several awards, one earned for Marksmanship.

Bendele was a rancher. He raised angora goats as a youngster. After winning Grand Champion Capons at the local stock show, his father convinced him to purchase Angora goats with his award money, learn to ranch and learn responsibility. He sold them to help pay for college.  At 14 years old, he rented a fueling station property where he sold gas and repaired automobiles in Blanco. In high school he played football and was a member of the FFA. After being honorably discharged from the military, he was in the dairy business before switching to raising beef cattle. He had also been an LBJ National Park Park-Ranger, followed by being a realtor specializing in farm and ranch, and while continuing to ranch beef cattle.

He met his future wife Meta Kathleen "Kathy" Bendele through his dog, Blue, at the veterinary clinic. Blue - a Blue Lacy - had a broken leg being set by Dr. Curtis Eckhardt. They married at Zion Lutheran Church, Fredericksburg, June 19, 1971.

Bendele had many hobbies and was a naturally curious person. Before having children, he enjoyed flying a Cessna airplane from the Fredericksburg Airport. A vociferous reader, he enjoyed history, business, science, and trains. He was also talented in mechanics, electrical, and construction. (In high school, he once took a 1955 Chevrolet car completely apart to see how it worked before putting it back together in running condition.) He had also served in the community in the Young Farmers Association, Stonewall Headstart Community Kindergarten school board, and served on Trinity Lutheran Church Council, Stonewall, TX.

He enjoyed playing practical jokes on friends, family members, and people with a good sense of humor. People enjoyed his laugh. He was a man of integrity and knew no strangers - he was not shy about striking up conversations with people he did not know. He believed in being a good steward of the land, enjoyed wildlife, working his cattle and playing with the 6 "grand-dogs". His greatest love has always been his family. He was a strict but loving father who was proud of all of them.

Survived by his wife of 49 years, Meta Kathleen "Kathy" (née Oehler) Bendele; three daughters, one son and their spouses: Nichole Bendele of Hye, TX; Charles Allen Bendele, II (and wife Kylie) of Loyal Valley, TX; Kelly Bendele McCrea (and husband Clayton) of Mason, TX; and Chris Bendele Perrenoud (and husband Bret) of Johnson City; and 6 grandchildren: Westin Perrenoud, Shelby Perrenoud, Travis Bendele, Emma McCrea, Ava McCrea, and Kiera McCrea.

He is also survived by his two sisters: Mary Joyce of Johnson City; and Bonnie (and Mark) Edmund of Longview, TX; and three sister-and-laws and one brother-and-law: Jeanette Oehler DeBrill of San Diego, CA; John Oehler; Judi Oehler Hall (and husband Joseph) of McKinney, TX; Virginia "Ginia" Oehler Bruno (and husband Randall) of Goliad, TX; and 6 nieces and 3 nephews and their spouses: Lisa Sanders DeLeon (and husband Jeffrey); Patrick Sanders (and wife Kim); Sarah Edmund Patterson (and husband Ryan); Valerie Edmund Lowery (and husband Josh); Andrea DeBrill Dunn (and husband Rick);

Brian Bruno (and wife Kristen); Christine Bruno Bretthauer (and husband James); Martin Hall; and Molly Hall McWhirter (and husband Will).

Pallbearers: Charles A. Bendele, II, Westin Perrenoud, Bret Perrenoud, Clayton McCrea, Juan Moreno, Tony Uballe, William Deike, and Craig Deike.

Honorary Pallbearers: Melvin Sultemeier, Al Lindig, William "Buddy" Francis, and Dr. Curtis Eckhardt.

Arrangements by Crow-Croft Funeral Home. For safety of guests during the COVID-19 pandemic, the funeral service and interment were privately held at the Bendele Cemetery, Hye, TX for immediate family on Thursday, October 29, 2020.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Smile Train at www.smiletrain.org or Hill Country Hospice at www.hillcountrymemorial.org .