John Diedrich Bendt III

John Diedrich Bendt III, 96, passed away on Tuesday, January 10, 2023 in Wilmington, NC where he was lovingly cared for by his grandson, Steven Eric Bendt II of Wilmington, NC and daughter Cynthia Bendt who is currently living in Arlington, Va.

He was born in Charleston, SC on April 8, 1926 to John Diedrich Bendt Jr and Wilhelmina Beckroge Bendt where he lived most of his life. He was married to Rosa Mae Barnes also of Charleston. He was a member of St. Matthews Lutheran Church, a member of the Mt. Pleasant Etiwan Masonic Lodge and was also a Shriner.

John worked in his early years in the family Beckroge Bakery. He joined the Navy during WWII in 1943 and served on the Destroyer Escort DE 204 USS Jordan. His vessel was assigned to monitor the North Atlantic to Cuba. For six months after the war he worked at the Naval Shipyard in Charleston and then signed up for another tour of duty and was stationed in Key West Florida. Following his last tour of duty he started working at the Charleston Mattress Factory and became a Master Mattress maker. He was then asked by his father and brother Paul Bendt to join the family Upholstery Business, which became Bendt Brothers Auto Upholstery on Sam Rittenberg Boulevard in Charleston.

Music was always a big part of his life. In his youth he played cornet in the high school band. He also played the banjo, guitar, ukulele, and other instruments in addition to singing barbershop quartets with his dad, friends, and family. He always enjoyed gardening, swimming, boating, fishing and was given the name “Creek Daddy’, as he spent much of his time at the family retreat on Abbapoola Creek on Johns Island. He was loved and appreciated by all who took great delight in his many stories and charm.

John is survived by Rosa Mae Bendt (wife), Cynthia Bendt (daughter), John D. Bendt IV (son), Steven Eric Bendt II and Jeremy Bendt (grandsons), Mariah Shuman and Leah Miyake (granddaughters). He is also survived by his sister, Elizabeth Godfrey, sister-in-law Annie Laurie Bendt in addition to many cousins, nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to a charity of your choice.

The Remembrance of John’s life will be held at Bethany Cemetery with Military Honors on January 28th 2023 at 10:00am. Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc., Mt. Pleasant Chapel.

A memorial message may be sent to the family by visiting our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com.