Melvin Russell Kendrick

Melvin Russell Kendrick (1932-2022)

Civil Engineer, Real Estate Investor, Show Horse Breeder

Melvin, the only son of the late Russell Marvin Kendrick and the late Rose Marie Kouba Kendrick, was a native of Baltimore, Maryland, and later a resident of Hornell, New York. He went to meet the Lord on Wednesday, January 12, 2022. Melvin was born on November 14, 1932 at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, attended the Baltimore public school systems. He also became a member of the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 96. He served as a Den Chief for a group of Cub Scouts. He achieved the rank of LIFE Scout with the earning of nineteen (19) merit badges before leaving for college in North Carolina. He had received his higher education from the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, Wake Forest University, with specialized courses at North Carolina State College, and the University of Baltimore. In addition, he was a diplomate of “Surveying and Mapping,” “Civil Engineering,” “Sanitary Engineering,” and I.C.S. Scranton, PA.

He volunteered for the submarine service (U.S.N.R.), which evoked a lifetime of study and interest in naval history. He visited submarine memorials in Pearl Harbor HI, Cleveland, OH, Hackensack, NJ, San Diego, CA, and other sites. In his later years he collected many submarine histories and pictures as a member of the U.S. Naval Institute.

He received a “Presidential Appointment” and served in the position of local draft board member, Maryland Local Board No. 35, and fulfilled his duty as prescribed by the President of the United States ending on July 29, 1991. Mr. Kendrick also received a Certificate of Appreciation for recognition of five years of loyal and faithful service rendered in the administration of the Selective Service System, dated the 23rd day of September 1990.

After attending college he was employed with William M. Maynadier, County Surveyor for Baltimore County, MD, Eugene Dietzgen Company (New York City), Matz Childs and Associates Engineers (Kidde Consultants) (Towson, MD), and finally as a project field engineer with the John F. Feezer, Jr. Company, a bridge construction contractor (Relay, MD), before semi-retirement in 1999.

His surveying and engineering work included work on many civil engineering projects including: the John F. Kennedy Maryland Interstate Highway I-95; Interstate 77 in West Virginia; Logan International Airport in Boston, MA; design work in Florida, Mississippi, and Maryland; design and supervisor of construction for water, sewerage, reservoir, and pump station work in many Maryland municipalities; long-term design and supervision of construction of the Northeast River Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility, Cecil County, MD; design work on Hog Hill Landfill, Cecil County, MD. Mr. Kendrick also completed many rights-of way acquisitions and design work for the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, as well as the Bell Atlantic (Verizon) Telephone Company throughout Maryland and Delaware. He also completed civil engineering site designs for many apartment complexes and subdivision tracts. In later years he was actively engaged in the procurement of engineering work for Kidde Consultants, Hunt Valley, MD.

His professional memberships included: American Society of Civil Engineers, Maryland Society of Civil Engineers, and the International Right of Way Association.

In addition to his civil engineering work, he owned and managed many rental properties in Maryland and New York. He also was a member of the Steuben County Landlords Association, Bath, NY. Mr. Kendrick worked full-time in later years on maintaining his properties, improving his properties, and helping deserving tenants acquire their own homes. He mentored several employees in learning construction and administrative skills.

He served with great humbleness as a Deacon and lay leader member of the Colonial Baptist Church, Pikesville, MD, and as an Historian and member of the Valley Baptist Church, Lutherville, MD. After moving to Hornell, he later served as moderator of the Board of Deacons of the United Presbyterian Church in Hornell, NY, and was a “faithful attendee” of the Hillside Baptist Church, Hornell, NY for many years.

Mr. Kendrick and his late wife, Millie, and son David owned a horse training and farm facility and bred horses both in Maryland and in upstate New York for many years.

Melvin enjoyed spending time with his family pursuing sailing and family recreation. He enjoyed his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and was extremely happy and proud to follow their education and life pursuits. Also, he enjoyed spending time reading all types of books, especially biographies and military histories, and maintained his personal library of over one thousand books.

Survived by Diana Hovorka, loving companion, and friend, of Hornell, NY. He was predeceased by his best friend and beloved wife Millie, to whom he was married 49 years, 10 months, and 15 days, and who died in February 2002. Melvin had married the former Mildred Frances Brabham on April 12, 1952 in the Belvedere Baptist Church, Baltimore, MD. He is survived by a son, David Winfield Kendrick(Laurie) of Hornell, NY; two daughters, Lydia Anne Kendrick Cress (Mark Fedoruk) of Westminster, MD, and Laura Lee Kendrick Leedy of Westminster, MD; three sisters, Phyllis R. Hensley of Florida (Ken), Carolyn L. Kendrick Frantz (Bob) of Ocala, FL, Alice E. Wood (Fred) of Millsboro, DE; five grandchildren, H. Paul Cress of Westminster, MD, Wesley Cress (deceased), Alissa Harington (Bob) of Westminster, MD, Iris “Katelyn” Leedy of Westminster, MD, and Dr. Bethany Leedy of Westminster, MD; four great-grandchildren Austin, Anna (David O’Brien), and Aubrey Harrington, and Ava Cress; and Addison O’Brien great-great grandchild, as well as many other relatives.

In later years Melvin met his later life’s companion, Diana Hovorka, also widowed, and together they travelled the world extensively and cruised on many bodies of water. A highlight during his travels was visiting his family ancestral home in Baltimore, County Cork, Ireland.

Memorial services for Mr. Kendrick are to be conducted in Reisterstown, MD at the convenience of his family, with later interment in the KENDRICK family burial grounds in Druid Ridge Cemetery, Pikesville, MD.

Thank you and may you all seek God and that He will be with all of you always. I look forward to being with you and Millie in heaven.

The Bishop-Johnson & DeSanto Funeral Home, 285 Main St., Hornell is honored to assist Melvin’s family with the arrangements.

To leave your own personal remembrance or condolence you may click on the link below or visit the Facebook page of Bishop-Johnson & DeSanto Funeral Home.