David Blake Mclendon

Services for Senior Chief Petty Officer David Blake McLendon, 30, are at 2:00 p.m., Friday, October 1, 2010 at Thomas County Central High School Gymnasium. Interment will be held in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Senior Chief Petty Officer David Blake McLendon was one of nine killed when the Army Blackhawk helicopter they were traveling on in support of a special operations mission went down in the southern Afghanistan province of Zabul on September 21, 2010. McLendon was raised in Thomasville, Georgia. A 1998 graduate of Thomas County Central High School, McLendon entered the Navy after graduation, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. He quickly rose through the ranks and obtained the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer in 2009. He was a Navy cryptologic technician who was trained at Pensacola Florida and Ft. Huachuca, Arizona and was a graduate of Excelsior College. During his 12 year Navy career he served at various commands in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and Norfolk, Virginia. His most recent command was Naval Special Warfare, Support Activity 2 at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek, Virginia. McLendon is survived by his wife in Virginia Beach and his parents of Thomasville, Georgia. He is also survived by his brother and sister from Macon, Georgia and his paternal grandmother in Thomasville as well as nephews and nieces. Mclendon was remembered by his fellow service members as a dedicated Navy professional with a quick wit and an engaging sense of humor. He loved fishing, the Atlanta Falcons and the Atlanta Braves. McLendon was devoted to his wife of eight years and enjoyed spending time with her walking the beaches of Virginia Beach searching for sea glass. He was loved by many, especially his wife and will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing and serving with him. The family will receive friends on Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home chapel. Family and friends may sign the online guest register at www.allenfh.com .