Wilbert Hendricks of Lakeport, Calif., died on Friday, May 24. He was 94 years old.

He was born Aug. 21, 1918, in Hanford, Calif., the third child of Roy Levi and Lizzie Alice Peaslee Hendricks.

The Hendricks family first settled in Lakeport about 1919. Eventually the family had nine children, all but three of whom were born in Lakeport.

Roy Hendricks bought a pear orchard and farm house located on approximately 900 acres out on Todd Road. His concrete contracting firm poured most of the sidewalks in downtown Lakeport, working with his sons Roy, Wilbert, Jake and Stanley.

Roy also sold firewood and pear spirits to neighbors and friends. It is rumored that to keep the kids from drinking his cache, Roy buried numerous bottles out by the old barn and there may still be a few bottles buried out there somewhere.  

Roy relocated to Fort Bragg around 1945 to go fishing. His son Wilbert followed him after the war, also bought a boat and fished for a few years. Prior to the war, Wil moved to Los Angeles to visit his sister, Fern, and then joined the Merchant Marines, serving with them in World War II.

After giving up fishing, he went into civilian service as a Merchant Seaman. His specialty was diesel engines.

When he retired from the Merchant Marines in 1975, he and his wife Merrie Carole moved back to Lakeport and built a home on a half acre on Ruby Drive where he lived until taking up residence at the Yountville Vets Home near Napa in 2010.

The Hendricks' residence was a continual destination for lots of friends and family members coming from Los Angeles, Fort Bragg, the Bay area, Washington and Pennsylvania.

Wil was an avid hunter and sports fisherman and spent several weeks every year at a hunting camp near Mt. Lassen that his dad, Roy, had discovered. They called it Windy Gap for the nearby windmill. Wil and Merrie also spent several weeks every year in Quartzite, Ariz., “camping” in their converted Greyhound bus.

Wil’s Merhant Marine travels to South America and the Orient allowed him to acquire some wonderful collectibles that will now be cherished by friends and family for both their beauty and memories.

Having no children of his own, Wil was a favorite uncle to all his nephews and nieces and frequently a substitute “Pop.” Even the neighbors’ kids learned there was always a sympathetic ear and a good joke at “Uncle Wil’s.”

And neighbors, Gene and Alice Frazell were the best friends one could hope for. Their generosity and watchful eye allowed Uncle Wil to remain in his cherished home long after he could manage all his own affairs.

Wil remained at the Yountville Vets Home for over three years, but he was ready to come back to Lakeport when he passed Friday, May 24, at age 94. Many times he claimed he couldn’t die now – he had to go fishing tomorrow.

But the time finally arrived for him to rejoin all of his old square dancing buddies, friends and family and especially his cherished wife, Merrie, for a big country hoedown up in heaven. Boy, will there be some yarns spun up there. Uncle Wil always had a joke for everyone and he had a lot stored up.

Uncle Wil’s military service accords him an honor guard send off. We will then all bid a fond farewell to Uncle Wilbert at his graveside as he is laid to rest at the Hartley Cemetery on Friday, June 7, at 11 a.m. Final taps will be provided by grand-nephew, Jason Hendricks.

Wilbert Hendricks is survived by his brother Jake Hendricks in Juneau, AK; younger sister Donna Lee Sanford in Idaho Falls, ID; and numerous nieces and nephews and their families.

Jones Mortuary is providing services.

Pat Wilks is Wilbert Hendricks' niece.