More detail on this person: Columbus, GA-
Richard (Rick) Frederick Sendelbach, Jr., died
Friday, August 12, 2011 at 7:30 P.M. at Columbus
Hospice after a valiant battle with cancer. He was
surrounded by beloved family and friends as was
fitting for Rick as he enjoyed people and was
always gracious and hospitable. Visitation will be
Tuesday, August 16 from 6-8 P.M. at McMullen
Funeral Home, 3874 Gentian Blvd., Columbus.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, August
17 at 11 A.M. at St. Thomas Episcopal Church,
2100 Hilton Ave. Columbus, officiated by The Rev.
Doug Hahn and Father Gerard Schreck. The service
will be followed by a reception at the church and
then burial at Parkhill Cemetery.
Rick Sendelbach was born December 9, 1947 in
Americus, GA to the late Richard (Dick)
Sendelbach, Sr. and the late Jean Nichols
Sendelbach of Columbus, GA. He was the first of
four children. He enjoyed gardening, reading and
spent his volunteer time helping homeless people
and animals. He was a creative chef, cooking for
the homeless shelter when he lived in Atlanta, and
served on task forces for the homeless in Atlanta
and Columbus. In recent years he assisted with
caring for feral cats through various volunteer
animal groups and made lasting friends with
like-minded people who love animals. He is
survived by his two rescued cats, Rascal and
Allison. He was a member of Columbus Mensa and
enjoyed playing chess and learning about numerous
topics.
Mr. Sendelbach was a graduate of Pacelli High
School. He attended Emory and Georgia Tech
Universities studying applied mathematics and
doing pioneer work in early computer systems
analysis.
He was an Army veteran serving in Viet Nam during
1970-71 as a Warrant Officer Assault helicopter
pilot. He received multiple decorations to include
the Bronze Star with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal,
Army Commendation Medal, National Defense
Service Medal, Army Aviator Badge, Good Conduct
Medal, Viet Nam Service Medal, Viet Nam
Campaign Medal and two Overseas Bars.
He worked at Fulton National Bank in Atlanta as an
Applications Programmer and Samaritan Health
Services in Phoenix, AZ, returning to Atlanta he
worked for many years at Southern Co. as senior
systems analyst. In 1997 he moved back to
Columbus to be closer to his family and worked for
Advanced Systems Technology and Science
Applications International at Ft. Benning as a
Systems Analyst.
Richard Sendelbach, Jr., is survived by his
brother, George (Andy) Andrew Sendelbach, Sr.
and his wife, Kay of Hurdle Mills, NC; his sister,
Susan Amanda Sendelbach and her husband, Jim
of Conyers, GA; his sister, Gretchen Sendelbach
Goldman and her husband Rodney of
Sautee-Nacoochee, GA. In addition, his niece,
Aimee Wisyanski and her husband, Tony of Naples,
FL and her children Cindy and High; niece,
Jennifer Morris of Wilmington, NC; nephew,
Jonathan Morris of Atlanta, GA; nephew, George
Andrew Sendelbach, Jr. of Hurdle Mills, NC; and
very soon to be born son and great nephew of
(Rick) Eli Daniel Sendelbach of Hurdle Mills, NC.
Nieces Traci Goldman and her daughter Naya
Justine Goldman of Eufaula, AL; and the late Carol
Ann Graham Goldman of Columbus. In lieu of
flowers, donations may be sent to Chattahoochee
Valley Episcopal Ministries, www.cvemjubilee.org
or Allied Cats www.alliedcats.com
Those who wish may sign the online guest registry
at www.mcmullenfuneralhome.com
Published in Columbus Ledger-Enquirer on August
16, 2011
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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