BMCM Thomas Elwood Bendure, Jr. (USN, Ret.)

Thomas Elwood Bendure, Jr., 71, of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, husband of Mary Frances Bendure, passed away on Monday, July 14, 2014. The family will receive friends at the J. HENRY STUHR, INC. MOUNT PLEASANT CHAPEL, 1494 Mathis Ferry Road on Saturday, July 19, 2014 from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm. A Memorial Service will be held at 3:00 pm on Sunday, July 20, 2014 at Point Hope United Methodist Church, 3404 Turgot Lane, Mount Pleasant. Burial will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, July 21, 2014 in Beaufort National Cemetery.

Tom was born in Wheeling, West Virginia on July 14, 1943, son of the late Thomas E. Bendure, Sr. and Sarah V. Bendure of Massillon, Ohio. He served in the United States Navy for 29 years and retired as a Master Chief Boatswain's Mate. His specialties were Special Warfare UDT/SEAL Team, Tugmaster and Mine Warfare. Tom was decorated with many awards and medals, among them the Purple Heart, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal with "V" Device, Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Service Medal with 7 Stars, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Special Warfare Trident.

Tom also retired from the City of Charleston Police Department as a mounted horse patrolman. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #5, Hammerton Masonic Lodge and the Scottish Rite. He was a member of Cherokee Place United Methodist Church for many years and more recently a member of Point Hope United Methodist Church. He was active in the choir, Sunday School and Men's Bible Study Group.

Surviving in addition to his wife, Fran, are his daughters, Beth M. Cook and Julie A. Clark (Timothy) both of Mount Pleasant, SC; his son, Michael T. Bendure, Sr. (Holly) of North Charleston, SC; his grandchildren, Lauren, Anthoney and Natalie Cook, Jack Clark and Hailey, Hannah, and Michael Bendure; his brother, Paul F. Bendure (Kathy) of Massillon, OH; his sisters and brothers-in-law, A. J. Goolsby, Jr. of Gray, GA, Bette J. and Steven E. Mathias, and David L. and Patricia A. Orner, both of Massillon, OH; and his aunts, uncle, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his son, Thomas E. Bendure III, his granddaughter, Mary Grace Clark, and his sisters, Christine A. Garzanich and Sara "Sandy" Bendure Goolsby, in addition to his parents.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Point Hope United Methodist Church, 3404 Turgot Lane, Mount Pleasant, SC 29466.