- Date Of Birth: October 8, 1928
- Date Of Death: March 22, 2003
- State: Indiana
Tom O. Wendling, 74, Madison, Georgia died March 22, 2003 at his home after an extended illness. He was born October 8, 1928 in Ludwigshafen, Germany, and resided in Madison, Georgia. A man determined to make a better life for his young family, he immigrated to the United States in February of 1957 with his wife and 2 1/2 year old daughter and settled in Anderson, Indiana. He became a U.S. citizen in 1964. Not yet fluent in English and unable to find work within his locksmith trade, he did odd jobs for York News Company and thereafter got his first break when he began working for Anderson Tool & Engineering, where he later earned his apprenticeship in toolmaking. He worked at various machine shops during his early years and ventured into his own business when he owned and operated the Wendling Brothers Tin Shop in Alexandria. On July 6, 1970, he joined General Motors as a journeyman toolmaker and retired from Delco Remy Division of General Motors on March 1, 1991. He was a member of U.A.W. Local #662 and Anderson Elks Lodge #209. He is survived by his wife of 6 years, Inge Zeuch Wendling; daughter, Monica Wendling & husband Bill Cooper of Anderson; son Robert Thomas & wife Tracy Wendling of Pendleton; three grandchildren, Brian Michael Pring of Anderson, Ashlyn Nicole-Ann Wendling and Kelsee Marie Wendling both of Pendleton; two brothers, Al & wife Heidi Wendling of Anderson and Hasso & wife Wilma Wendling of Germany; nieces, Millie & husband Steve Noel of Anderson and Evi & husband Juergen Grahn of Germany; nephews, Horst Hoffman, Bernd & wife Maria Wendling and Udo Toepler all of Germany. He is also survived by his former wife of 44 years, Hilda Rudolph Wendling, and three close friends: Jim Adams of Anderson, Evan Hodges and Adolf Schnell both of Florida. He was preceded in death by his parents, Adolf & Kathe Wendling and his sister, Gerda Toepler.
