Barbara B. Kendall

Barbara Marion Berry Kendall “Bobi”, born September 19, 1928, died Monday, September 25, 2006, at Memorial Hospital at Easton. Bobi was raised in Newton, MA, and graduated from Burdette College. She became a stewardess for American Airlines before being married on July 4, 1951, in East Dorset, VT. She retired from flying to be a wife and mother and became a member of the Kiwi Club. She was elected National 1st Vice President of the Kiwi Club. Bobi shared Don’s interest in politics, and they eagerly embraced involvement in local politics and the Young Republicans Club. Through this, she was elected National Regional Chairman over five states. After that, she was asked to be the Executive Secretary to the off-year platform committee for the Republican National Committee. A document she produced was presented to former president Eisenhower and at age 34, by his special request, she was invited to breakfast with General Eisenhower. For several years Bobi managed the Republican Women’s Conference in Washington, DC. Later she received a position as the Confidential Assistant to the Director of the U.S. Mint at the Department of the Treasury. She was then appointed Director of the Executive Secretariat in the Office of the Secretary at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. She was a conference consultant and manager for the Republican National Committee, National Republican Women’s Committee, Bureau of the Mint, and the New York State Food Merchants Association. Eventually Bobi, Don, and their children moved to the Eastern Shore of Maryland, settling into the Ingleton Manor House on the Miles River. Here, Bobi found an interest for real estate and spent the next 20 + years as an agent for Coldwell Bankers which later became Latham Kagan Realtors. She was elected President of the County Board of Realtors and was later named Realtor of the Year. She rediscovered her passion for politics and became locally involved. She was a member of the Talbot County Republican Women and held the position of the Chairman of the Talbot County George W. Bush Reelection Committee. She was also involved with the Talbot County Kiwi’s Club. She was Vice Chairman of the State Board of Elections for two terms. She won reelection to the Talbot County Republican Central Committee two weeks ago. Bobi had a lust for travel and managed to make her way over a good portion of the world. Her adventures included the countries of China, France, Ireland, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Turkey, the Caribbean, and New Zealand. She will be missed excessively by family and friends. She was the dear wife of the late Don. R Kendall, who died December 8, 1995, and the loving mother of William Wayne, who died July 9, 1999. Mrs. Kendall is survived by three children; Kathryne Ann Kendall Middleton, Don Robert Kendall Jr. and his wife Angela, and Geoffrey Grigsby Kendall and his wife Kathryn; her brother, Wayne Richardson Berry, and his wife Lisa; and nine grandchildren, Ashleigh Nicole Middleton, Kelleigh Kendall Middleton, Christina Kendall Gibson, William Wayne Kendall, Jr., Don Robert Kendall III, Sophia Skipper, Joshua Skipper, Heather Overstreet, and Allison Overstreet. Friends may call on Thursday, September 28, 2006, from 3 to 5 pm and 7 to 9 pm at Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, P.A., Easton, MD. Funeral services will be held on Friday, September 29, 2006 at 10:30 am at Christ Church, St. Michaels, MD. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Barbara “Bobi” Kendall American Exceptionalism Scholarship Fund, Box 111, 606 A , N. Talbot St, St.Michaels, MD 21663, or Christ Church, PO Box S, St. Michaels, MD 21663.