Max William Fender

On the morning of Saturday, March 07, 2020, Max William Fender, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather, departed from this world at his residence to be home with his Lord and Savior. The son of the late Garrett Wood Fender and Cordelia “Delia” Lavinia Norman Fender, he was born on December 21, 1940 in McDowell County.

A dear friend to his community, Max was a member and steward of Charity Mission Free Will Baptist Church. Max was an avid guitar player and part of a music ministry that played for nursing homes throughout McDowell County. Though he was not a reverend, Max was known to lead a Spirit filled sermon at his “other” church and was a devoted Sunday school teacher. He loved all children, and took them in as his own; even volunteering with Girl Scouts of America for many years.  He was also a member of the Civil Air Patrol McDowell Squadron for over twenty years. Max loved to spend time in nature and watching animals around him especially squirrels, martins, and the many deer around his home. Max loved Christmas time, because it was one of the few times a year when the whole family would be together at once, which he loved more than anything else. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather who will be missed by all who knew him.

In addition to his parents, Max is preceded in death by two brothers, Paul Fender and Tom Fender, and two sisters Dorthy Lockman and Thelma Smith, as well as a son-in-law, Adam Warren, and a great granddaughter, Emma Moore.

Left behind to cherish his precious memory are his wife of sixty love filled years, Janie Marie Atwood Fender; four children, Dale Fender (Teresa), Nelda Fender Newton, Jackie Fender (Barbara), Sandy Fender Warren, and two sisters, Maude Lawing and Elva Jenkins (Herbert). Max also leaves behind eleven grandchildren, Brandon Fender (Stacy), Julie Storie (Bobby), Emily Myles (Jabari), Rachel Wilson (Mitchell), Halley Moore (Matt), Drew Newton, Holly Rodé, Violet Buchanan, Cassey Epley (David), Christopher Warren, and Mandie Beth Warren; as well as eleven great grandchildren.

A funeral service to celebrate Max’s life and homegoing will be held on Tuesday, March 10, 2020, at 11:00 A.M. in the Chapel of Beam Funeral Service, with the Reverends Dennis Hensley and Bobby Revis officiating. The family will receive friends from 10:00 A.M. until 11:00 A.M., one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment will follow the service in the Harmony Grove Baptist Church Cemetery.

Flowers are accepted and appreciated, however those wishing to make memorial donations are asked to consider St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, and/or the Gideons International, P.O. Box 97251, Washington DC 20090