Frankie Darrell Fender

Frankie Darrel Fender was born December 23, 1940, in Tulare, California to Edwin Fender and Helen McCandless Fender. He passed into Heaven on March 8, 2023, at the age of 82 years.

A visitation will be held from 12:00p.m. to 1:00p.m., Monday, March 13, 2023, at the Ralph O. Jones Funeral home, 306 S. 2^nd Street., Odessa, Missouri 64076.  A funeral service will follow. An interment with military honors will be held at 3:00p.m., Monday, March 13, 2023, at Newcomer's Floral Hills Cemetery, 7000 Blue Ridge Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64133. Memorials are suggested to Wounded Warriors Project. Memories of Frankie and condolences for the family may be left at www.LedfordFamilyFH.com or on our Facebook Page. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Ralph O. Jones Funeral Home, 306 S. 2^nd Street., Odessa, Missouri 64076, 816-633-5524.

On September 20, 1961, Frankie married Betty Barber in Kansas City, Missouri. Together they raised a family, worked hard, and served God in many ways. Frankie was ordained as a deacon in 1973. He served as a deacon for 10 years at the First Baptist Church in Grain Valley, 15 years at the First Baptist Church of Bates City and 15 years at the First Baptist Church of Oak Grove. He was a current member of the Grover Park Baptist Church.

Frankie worked at Wilcox Electric Company in Kansas City, Missouri for eleven years. In 2000, he retired from Fike Corporation after twenty-seven years of service. After becoming bored with retirement, Frankie went back to work for the Odessa R-7 school district as a custodian for eight years.

Frankie was a wonderful husband, dad, and Pappy. He loved to travel and see new sights with all his family. He enjoyed family get togethers and loved playing with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Frankie was a perfectionist who enjoyed woodworking for many years. He made baby cradles and rocking horses for each of his grandchildren as well as many other gifts for family members.

Frankie is survived by his wife, Betty Fender, of the home; his son Darrel Fender and his wife Sandy, of Higginsville, MO.; his daughter Dawn Adams and her husband Ralph, of Windsor, MO.; three grandchildren, Kyron Fender and his wife Jessica, of Higginsville, MO.; Kymra Wells and her husband Nick, of Higginsville, MO.; and Danielle Williams and her husband Jacob, of Sedalia, MO.; eleven great grandchildren, Kyden, Kegan, Kasyn, Kinzley, Kyrelle, Leland, Kadence, Bradyn, Jocee, Lilly, Addilyn; and a step-brother, Arnie Lederer.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Ronald Fender and his granddaughter, Kacia Fender.