René Ephram Wendell, Jr.

René Ephram Wendell, Jr., 81, of Scottsdale passed away peacefully at home on December 24, 2022, after a long battle with Dementia. His deep and humble Christian faith brought him strength and comfort, and was reflected through the kindness, charity and patience he unceasingly showed. We will all miss his quiet, easy manner, his witty sense of humor and a humble attitude about his lifetime of notable achievements. This unique combination garnered a wide circle of lifelong friends and admirers for this blue-eyed gentleman. He was a talented floral and event designer, lifelong business owner, patient teacher, effective community leader, adventurous cowboy, and avid outdoor sportsman. And René was an especially good fisherman!

Born on January 8, 1941, in Evanston, IL, son of the late “Bud” and Levern Larsen Wendell, he was predeceased by his older sister, Karen L. Wendell. Graduating from Scottsdale High School in 1959, he later served in the U.S. Army National Guard until being honorably discharged in 1965. Following in his father’s footsteps, René became a florist whose talent and skills brought him international recognition. For more than 60 years, he was a frequently honored florist and event designer, a successful business owner of Wendell’s Flowers (later Wendell Design Group) and an influential floral industry advocate. He was most honored to be invited to share his skill and knowledge as a visiting florist at the White House in Washington DC.  

The Honorable René Wendell was elected to Councilman on the Scottsdale City Council from 1984 to 1988, and served as Scottsdale’s Vice Mayor in 1986. He achieved the opening of Horseman’s Park (now Westworld) where Wendell Arena was dedicated in 1987. He also worked tirelessly to bring the PGA Tour to Scottsdale resulting in the move of the Phoenix Open Golf Tournament to Scottsdale’s TPC. Throughout his life he continued to volunteer and serve in many community leadership roles for organizations such as Rotary, Civitan, and The Boys and Girls Clubs.  

René loved horses and was a “real” cowboy, raised on a small ranch in Old Scottsdale. Ever since his family moved to AZ in 1951, he loved to explore the state by riding horseback through the wilderness trails. René was a member of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Posse and was also a Hashknife Pony Express Rider for the Navajo County Sheriff’s Posse, riding to deliver mail by horseback from Holbrook, AZ to the Scottsdale post office. Combining his community spirit and love of horses, he was proud of being a Scottsdale Charro. René especially looked forward to the Charro Trail Rides every year. As an expert horseman, René was a multi-year gymkhana champion and was honored as Charro Top Cowboy in 1989. René combined his fine art skills with his love of horses and cowboys to design and sculpt a Western themed bronze sculpture entitled, “Takin’ a Break” which was featured in one of Scottsdale’s finest art galleries.  

René married Ellen Racer Wendell in 1963 and together they joyfully raised three children until Ellen’s death from cancer in 1987. He is loved by daughter Cheryle Lee Eckhardt and her husband David Eckhardt, son Troy Allen Wendell, and daughter Andrea René e Jung and her husband John Jung. The Wendell family tree grew with the arrival of grandchildren, Chase Eckhardt, Emily Eckhardt, Mason Eckhardt, Rylie Jung, and Payton Jung, and later by the addition of great grandchildren, Caiden, Cane, Avery, Payton, Corbin, and Parker. René is also fondly remembered by his second wife, Ann Brown, and her son, Kevin Brown, with whom René  had a special friendship.  

In 2002, René married his devoted wife, best friend and business partner, Linda Prather Wendell, and is loved by her children Michael “Ryan” Williams, Mark “Reed” Williams and his wife Ellen Williams, Kelly Elizabeth Williams and her husband, Olivier Courtemanche, and Deborah Adams Murray and her children, Robert “Bobby” Murray, IV, Phineas “Finn” Murray, and Margaret “Maggie” Murray.  

Visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, January 6th at Messenger Mortuary, 7601 Indian School Road, Scottsdale, AZ. Funeral Services will be on Saturday, January 7th at 10 a.m. at Valley Presbyterian Church, 6947 E. McDonald Dr., Paradise Valley, AZ. René will be buried at Green Acres Cemetery, Scottsdale.  

The Wendell family is celebrating René with beautiful flower arrangements from René ’s floral industry colleagues. If you would like to add to the family’s floral selections, please call Fred’s Flowers at (480) 897-3733.