Wrightley Pendleton

Wrightley Richard Pendleton, age 78, passed away at his home in Bladen, Nebraska on Monday October 26th, 2026
Wrightley was born in Kingsport, Tennessee on November 22, 1947. After completing the 9th grade at Ketron High School in Kingsport, Tennessee, he chose to enter the work force.
In 1970, Wrightley married his best friend, Ramona Jackson, beginning a life together filled with adventure and shared memories.
For 50 years, Wrightley made his living as a professional truck driver, traveling coast to coast and hauling a wide variety of loads, from cattle to refrigerated products. Later, he would retire and then worked as the Maintenance Supervisor for the Village of Bladen, Nebraska.
Wrightley also attended and graduated from the Idaho State Police Academy in Boise, Idaho in 1980. While matriculating at the police academy, he did earn the top Driving Course Award for his graduating class. Later, he would serve as a peace officer off and on and between being a truck driver for 10 years in communities across Idaho, Nevada, and Wyoming.
Wrightley was an adventurous, funny, and simple man who was known for his great smile and easygoing personality. Music was a special part of his life. A talented musician, from a young age, he played as lead guitar in the band known as The Rockalongs. By the age of thirteen he and the Rockalongs would go on to publish two records titled “In the Pines and Dontcha Know”, which were both recorded in Nashville, Tennessee.
Wrightley is survived by his wife, Ramona Pendleton; his son, Richard Pendleton, and daughter-in-law Darlene Pendleton of Bladen, Nebraska; and their three children, Deney, Victor, Ricky, and two stepchildren; William “Bill” Pendleton, of North Dakota, and Ramona Marie of Idaho.
Graveside services will be held at 10:30AM on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at East Lawn Cemetery, Bladen, Nebraska.
Memorials are suggested to AseraCare (Hospice) of Grand Island, Nebraska, and may be sent in care of Williams & Kuehn Funeral Home, 241 W. 4th Ave, Red Cloud, NE 68970.