Obituary of Edward M. Bendl

Mr. Edward M. Bendl, age 88, died Friday morning, August 28, 2009 at his home in Gloversville. He had lived in Johnstown for most of his life, and in Northville for 30 years. He was born on August 21, 1921 in Johnstown, the third of four sons of the late John and Sophie Jackson Bendl. He was a 1939 graduate of Johnstown High School and later worked for the Upstate Telephone Company. He proudly joined the US Army Air Corps during World War II and trained in aircraft mechanics, later serving in India and China. In 1946 he returned to the phone company then General Telephone and served as their Johnstown plant supervisor. He later became Division Storeroom Supervisor for many locations in the northeast. In the 1960's he was also a road patrolman for the Fulton County Sheriff's Dept. In 1968 he took over Bendl's Brass Rail Restaurant in Northville, along with his brother Frank. He also worked at N.A. Taylor Boat Company for ten years. In 1988 he opened Ed's Fly Shop on Route 30 on the Great Sacandaga Lake and also continued to work as a deputy sheriff at the Fulton County Court House. Ed was a member of Fish House Masonic Lodge #298 of Northville, St. James Lutheran Church in Gloversville, Johnstown Moose Lodge, Fulton County Sheriff's Association, Fly Tyer Association, Bamboo Rod Association and the National Rifle Association. He will be remembered as a "Legend" in the Adirondack region, as well as for his keen sense of humor and jovial manner. He also wrote a book on his life from 1939 to 1969 "Decent Man - Lucky Man, The Life and Times of Ed Bendl". He loved to hunt and fish the Adirondacks. Ed was married on June 24, 1961 to Shirley R. Fox who survives. Also surviving are his three children, Barbara Martin Tom of Ballston Lake, Jane Havel Joe of Johnstown and Terry Bendl of Austria; a brother, Frank Bendl of Northville; a granddaughter, Ruth Sophia Bendle of Austria; step-grandchildren, step-greatgrandchildren, two nephews and a niece. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Charles Bendl and John Bendl. The family will receive relatives and friends from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Walrath & Stewart Funeral Home, 51 Fremont St; Gloversville. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, August 31 at St. James Lutheran Church, Gloversville, with the Rev. L. David Almleaf officiating. Cremation took place at Park View Crematorium, Schenectady. Final interment will be at Prospect Hill Cemetery, Northville. Memorial contributions may be made in lieu of flowers to St. James Lutheran Church, 521 N. Main St; Gloversville, NY 12078.