Robert Herndon

Tupelo - Robert Earl Herndon, 88, died Thursday, January 14, 2010, at his residence after a sudden illness. He was born in Okolona December 10, 1921 to the late Hosey P. and Ivy Marler Herndon. He served in the US Navy during World War II. He was a longtime resident of Shannon and was the owner and president of Herndon Well and Supply of Shannon for 60 years. He held contractor licenses in Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, and Louisiana. He was a 32nd degree Mason and served three times as the Master of Palmetto Lodge 152. He was also a Royal Arch Rite and Scottish Rite. He also served as chairman of the Mississippi Board of Natural Resources and the past Director of the Mississippi Rural Water Association. He was a member of Shannon United Methodist Church where he served as a past treasurer of the United Methodist Mens Club.

Services will be 2 p.m. Saturday at The Jefferson Street Chapel of W. E. Pegues with Rev. Jerry Beam and Rev. William Harrison officiating. Burial will be in Lee Memorial Park.

Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Winafred Marmer Herndon of Tupelo; two daughters, Betty House (Clinton) of Tupelo and Susan Russell of Tupelo; three sons, Martin Herndon (Margaret) of Brandon, Ricky Herndon (June) of Shannon and Rodney Herndon (Shelley) of Florence; ten grandchildren, Kim Bradley (Jeff), Kathy Hammons (Will), Matt Kimbrough, Ryan Herndon (Lucy), Lance Herndon (Ashley), Leigha McLendon (Nick), Justin Herndon, Mary Beth Herndon, Taylor Herndon, Abby Herndon; nine great-grandchildren, Nicholas, Jacob, and Joseph Bradley, Kelsey, Emily, and Sarah Beth Hammons, Kate and Mary Martin Herndon, Shaleigh McLendon; one sister, Marie Richie of Grand Prairie, Texas.

Pallbearers will be Keith Wiseman, Mark Stewart, Don Clark, Larry Spencer, Mayo Grubbs, Ryan Herndon, Matt Kimbrough, Lance Herndon, and Justin Herndon.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Leonard McGehee, Terry Helms, and O.H. "Bunch" Gardner, Riley Phillips; members of the Palmetto Masonic Lodge 152; and the men of Shannon United Methodist Church.

Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home and will continue 12:30 p.m. Saturday until service time.

Memorials may be made to The Robert E. Herndon Scholarship Fund, Mississippi State University School of Engineering; Shannon United Methodist Church PO Box 176, Shannon, MS 38868; or the Palmetto Masonic Lodge 152, 151 Drive 57, Tupelo MS 38801.