Bill Text: VA HJR658 | 2023 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Celebrating the life of Gordon Locke Kendall.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-02-22 - Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ658ER) [HJR658 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2023-HJR658-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, Gordon Locke Kendall, a noted wine aficionado and beloved member of the Roanoke community whose gift for storytelling enchanted all who knew him, died on December 27, 2022; and
WHEREAS, Gordon Kendall earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of South Carolina in 1975 and married his wife, Pamela, in Columbia, South Carolina, in 1979 before relocating to Roanoke a year later; and
WHEREAS, Gordon Kendall later acquired a degree in electronic engineering from Virginia Western Community College and worked for some time at Ricoh as a fax and copier technician; and
WHEREAS, Gordon Kendall's passion for wine ultimately inspired him to find work as a wine buyer and merchant at various local establishments, including Harris Teeter, Lee & Edwards Wine Merchants, and Wine Gourmet, providing him ample opportunity to broaden his knowledge of wine, beer, and other spirits; and
WHEREAS, for the past 15 years, Gordon Kendall worked as a technical writer and technology support analyst at Allstate, where his talent for storytelling proved vital to his success in helping customers; and
WHEREAS, since 2005, Gordon Kendall wrote the "Good Libations" column for The Roanoke Times, offering readers a bounty of anecdotes and insights to heighten their understanding of and appreciation for wine, beer, and spirits; and
WHEREAS, Gordon Kendall found exceptional joy in regaling his family and friends with stories from his life, which never failed to amuse, entertain, and educate those who were fortunate enough to hear them; and
WHEREAS, Gordon Kendall savored every chance he had to bask in the beauty and grandeur of the great outdoors, often embarking on camping adventures in his family's Shasta camper or setting out for early morning hikes in the mountains surrounding Roanoke; and
WHEREAS, Gordon Kendall will be fondly remembered and dearly missed by his loving wife of 43 years, Pamela; his sister, Jacqueline, and her family; and numerous other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of Gordon Locke Kendall, a cherished member of the Roanoke community whose bonhomie and good cheer brought happiness to the countless friends and strangers he encountered throughout his life; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Gordon Locke Kendall as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for his memory.
