Roy Van Pendergrass

Roy Van Pendergrass, 80, finished his earthly walk Wednesday, April 21, 2021 at Shannon South Medical Center. A visitation has been scheduled for Sunday, April 25, 2021 from 2:00 - 4:00 PM at Harper Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held 10 A.M. Monday, April 26th, at West Angelo Church of Christ, 3200 San Antonio St, San Angelo Texas, with Max Pratt of Ballinger officiating. Van was born in Littlefield, Texas on May 2, 1940 to Arthur Tivis “Art” Pendergrass and Lora E. (McGuire) Pendergrass. He married the former Saundra L. “Sandy” Blevins on June 2, 1960, in Littlefield, TX. Van was raised in a farming family and spent most of his childhood on a farm in Anton, TX. During one of the droughts of the 50’s, his parents sold out and moved the family to the San Joaquin Valley in California. After graduating from Fowler Union High School in Fowler, Ca, he came back to Texas for a brief time to help an ailing uncle plant and harvest a crop. While in Texas, he met and married Sandy and they moved back to California. Shortly after moving to Fresno, they started their family. They had two sons, Darryl and Terry, born in Fresno. During this time, Van worked for a couple of years building and driving floats for the Rose Bowl Parade. Later he worked for 12+ years for Independent Metal Products, a division of Fruehauf Trailers. He worked in nearly every department and was quickly put in a lead and/or supervisory position. While continuing to work for Independent Metal, he and Sandy also attended The Fresno Bible Preparatory Work. There, he became aware that his true calling was to the ministry of Christ. He began that ministry in Scottsdale Arizona in 1975. In 1981, Van, Sandy, and Terry moved to San Angelo and ministered to the West Angelo Church of Christ. While faithfully serving this congregation, he continued his biblical studies and earned his B.A. in Bible at Southwest Bible Institute under Portis Ribble, Jim Murphy, and Bill Leach. Never one to sit still and do nothing, he and Earl Dunn served as the first two chaplains for the San Angelo Police Department and he also served with the Citizen’s Police Academy. He served for a brief time with Court Appointed Special Advocates. He volunteered for the Adult Protective Services and later served on the Adult Protective Services Advisory board. He completed Basic Clinical Pastoral Education and became a chaplain with Shannon Hospital. In 1999, he and Sandy moved to Stanton and he ministered there until he retired in 2008. He also served the City of Stanton as their first Police Chaplain. Because of Van’s health issues, after they retired, Van and Sandy moved back to San Angelo and he enjoyed those retirement years planting gardens and watching things grow. He had a VERY green thumb. His last moments at his house were spent on his screened in porch checking on plants. He was preceded in death by his parents, his two brothers, Arthur D. and Jimmy Glenn Pendergrass. He is survived by his wife, Sandy, of 60+ years of marriage, his sons Darryl Pendergrass and wife MariJo, of Arizona and Terry Pendergrass and wife Leslie of Oregon, two sisters Dorisey Lee Reed of Mexia, Tx. and Kay Elaine Adams of Fresno Ca. He is also survived by 7 grandchildren and 13 great-grands. Memorials can be made to the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association, or a favorite charity.