RICHARD “WENDALL” DEAN CHAVEZ
Richard “Wendall” Dean Chavez, passed away on February 24, 2023. He was 65 years old. Richard was born in Kingman, to Lorna Jean and Rosalio N. Chavez on April 30, 1957. He was a lifelong Kingman resident.
As the owner of Wendall’s Block and Concrete, his beautiful masonry craftsmanship can be seen in many homes, businesses, and parks throughout the community. Richard had a love of hunting, fishing, and nature. Hunting ducks with his dog Rowdy was a favorite pastime. Although, he often had to retrieve his own ducks, it was always under the watchful eye of Rowdy from shore. He was a sucker for a lost dog or cat and western movies particularly with John Wayne. He enjoyed watching Norte Dame football, University of Arizona sports, Women’s College Softball and Arizona Coyote Hockey.
Richard was a good cook and in recent years began baking his favorite, chocolate chip cookies. Our mother would bake raisin, oatmeal cookies for him and his crew. One day he asked why since he hated raisins. She replied that her dog Pickles liked them.
He was a talented athlete playing football and baseball for Kingman High School. He was a member of one of the best teams KHS has experienced. He later played for several fast-pitch teams including C&A Turquois. He loved kids and deeply enjoyed his time as a coach for youth league baseball and football.
Richard is preceded in death by his parents, Lorna and Rosie, his grandparents, Fred and Gilberta Combs, Jose and Ignacia Chavez and nephew Angus Martinez.
He is survived by his former wife, Rene Driver-Chavez, girls Izabelle and Allie Cazarez, his siblings, Rose Anna and Daryl Heinitz, of Tucson, James and Edwina Chavez, of Kingman, FJ “Joe” and Arlene Chavez of Flagstaff, Francis “Chapo” and Terri Chavez of Kingman, Gilbert and Ake Chavez of Tokyo, Japan and Carol Chavez of Tucson, nieces, Heather Zapata, Isabel Begay, Jolene, Lorna and Tara Chavez, nephews, Denys Roberts, Jake, Chris, Mike, and Andy Chavez.
Desert View Funeral Home is handling funeral arrangements for the family. A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, March 16 at Mountain View Cemetery in Kingman. If you wish, please donate to the charity of your choice in Richards’ name.
