William James Mckendrick

William James McKendrick, 85, of Duarte, California, slipped peacefully from this life on January 19, 2019, after an evening spent surrounded by his children. In the thick of family was his favorite place to be and we who loved him draw comfort knowing his last day was full of friendly chatter so much so, more than once he told his beloved progeny to pipe down.
William, born August 2, 1933, was a maverick among men, a primal force who braved the hard knocks of growing up fatherless, the stark realities of getting drafted into the Korean War, and the uncertainty of providing for a large family as a small business owner.
At the age of 20. William married the incomparable Grace Ostler. It was a union that brought him the mother lode of his life, his family.
The number of cherished moments he shared with his children include, imparting to them his love of cars, road trips that allowed long conversations, splashy trips abroad, even back to South Korea, the place of so much stress and fear when he was a young man.
The joy he felt from his 40+ grandchildren and great grandchildren cannot be overstated. They were his everything.
In addition to being a dialed-in grandfather, William was a terrific neighbor. He was a man who never hesitated to chat with a stranger. This sanguine nature, this unflappable joviality, was one of his greatest characteristics.
William is survived by his six children: James McKendrick (Tina), Margaret Miramontes (Michael), Robert McKendrick (Delanie), Helen Bernd (Eric), Richard McKendrick (Lisa) and Michael McKendrick (Katherine), his multiple grand and great grandchildren, and his beloved dog Sasha.
Burial will be at 12:00 noon at the Live Oak Memorial Park in Monrovia. A memorial service will follow at 2:00 p.m. at the Monrovia Ward Chapel, 532 W. Lemon, Monrovia, CA.