Edwin Gray "Ed" Mendenhall

FLORENCE - The Rev. Edwin Gray "Ed" Mendenhall, 76, of Florence died on Oct. 27, 2015, at Florence Hospital at Anthem.

The Rev. Mendenhall was born on Sept. 3, 1939, in Sanford, North Carolina, and was a son of William Mendenhall and Ann Rankin. He graduated from Sanford High School and attended the University of North Carolina, graduating in 1962 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He received a Master of Divinity degree from Yale University in 1965 and married Georgia White that same year. He was ordained a minister in the United Church of Christ in 1966. He married Alice Tenney in 1969, and they had two children.

He had a 50-year career in the ministry with several pastorates in Connecticut, Michigan, Indiana and Colorado. He married Sharon Reynolds Long in 1996 and continued in interim ministry for several years in Wyoming, Tempe and Prescott. He and Sharon lived in Arizona for 10 years with their two cats. He loved people, had a true heart for ministerial service and was seeking a new ministry at the time of his death. He was known for his flair for intellectual debate, was athletic and loved to jog, take pictures, watch war movies and read.

Survivors include his wife, Sharon; a daughter, Alicia Elmore of Cadillac, Michigan; a stepson, James Long of San Jose, California; a sister, Lynda Arsenault of Sanford; a brother, Charles Lyles of North Carolina; and three grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son, Jonathan Mendenhall, and a sister, Maryann Mendenhall.

The service will be held later.

J. Warren Funeral Services, Cole & Maud Coolidge Chapel was in charge of arrangements.