Oneil C. Mendenhall, 76
Mendenhall, chairman of the board of Fiesta Mart here, died of natural causes at the age of 76.
Mendenhall began his food-retailing career in 1947, working at his family's grocery store in Seiling, Okla. He later operated stores of his own in Oklahoma and Kansas. In 1972, he founded Fiesta Mart here and developed it from a single store to 36 units in Houston, Dallas, Austin and Fort Worth.
For many years, Mendenhall headed Fiesta's perishables department, and his stores became well known for their large selections of exotic produce, meat and seafood. Around the stores, Mendenhall was known for his generosity and his concern for employees. He died Oct. 2.
He was a past board member of the United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association, and was a member of the Houston Retail Grocers' Association, Produce Marketing Association, American Meat Institute and the Food Marketing Institute.
Jim Gooding, 74
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Services were held here for Jim Gooding, founder of Gooding's Supermarkets, Apopka, Fla., who died following a lengthy battle with Parkinson's disease. He was 74.
Gooding was born in Urichsville, Ohio. In his youth, he worked at his father's small grocery store there. After serving in the military in World War II, he returned to Urichsville, where he opened a large supermarket with his brother.
In 1960, Gooding moved to Florida and bought three existing IGA supermarkets, which were later sold. He opened the first Gooding's Supermarket in Maitland, Fla., a suburb of Orlando, in 1964, and built the company to 13 units. Gooding died Sept. 25.
In addition to his supermarket career, Gooding was also well known for his philanthropic work over the past three decades, which benefited hundreds of local churches, schools, ministries and charities, including the House of Hope, the Leukemia Society, the American Heart Association, Junior Achievement, the Salvation Army, the American Red Cross, Second Harvest Food Bank, Navigators and Frontline Outreach.
All Gooding's Supermarkets were closed for a three-hour period to allow employees to attend the funeral services. Gooding is survived by his wife, Mary Lou; son, Jonathan Gooding, who is chief executive officer of the company; daughter, Julie Gooding Loy, who is director of consumer affairs for the company; a son-in-law; and two grandchildren.
