Wendell Carroll Rankin

Wendell Carroll Rankin, age 87, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 27, 2021 with his loving family by his side. He was born on Tuesday, January 2, 1934, in El Dorado, Arkansas. Wendell grew up loving sports, received a basketball scholarship, and attended college in Oklahoma. He moved to Luling in 1955 to start a family and his career at Monsanto Chemical Company as an electrician for 41 years. When he retired, he became a resident of Hammond and Ponchatoula. Wendell was a Charter member of the First Baptist Church in Luling for 44 years. For many years, he loved being a team member of the bowling league at Tangi Lanes where he met great friends. He was an avid golfer who also marshaled at Carter Plantation where he played and worked with great friends for over 20 years. He also played and excelled at tennis, league softball, ping pong and other various sports. He had an interest and love of planes and flying which prompted him as a young man to obtain his pilots’ license. Cars, motorcycles, boats, anything with a motor he loved them all. He had a zest for life and could start a conversation with anyone. He loved spending time with his family and will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Wendell is survived by five children; Max, Diana Bye (Tim), Perry, Roger (Michelle) and Judy Leaber (Al); 5 grandchildren, Dustin, DeeDee, Britney, Brandon and Zachary, his 8 great-grandchildren; Desi, Ian, Hayden, Havana, Charlie, Braxton, Demi, and Layne. He also had numerous nephews and nieces.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Frances Brown Rankin; his parents, Leon Carroll Rankin and Hazel Bailey Rankin, and his brother Jimmy Rankin (Martha Ann); and great-grandchild, Daelyn.

Visitation for Family and Friends will be held on Saturday, May 29, 2021 from 11:30 am until the Memorial Service begins at 1:00 pm, at Harry McKneely and Son Funeral Home, 100 West Magnolia Street, Ponchatoula, La. 70454.

The family would like to thank the loving and caring nurses and staff at Summerfield Living Center and Heart of Hospice for such great care and support.

‍