Wendell Rivers entered into God’s Kingdom on Aug. 13, 2026.
Wendell was born on May 27, 1964, to the late James and Annie Rivers and was their third-eldest child. Wendell was predeceased by his parents, his favorite uncle, Gerald, and his brother, Freeman.
Wendell was educated in the Baltimore City school system. Following completion of his education, Wendell served his country in the U.S. Army for six years. After his Army service, Wendell found work in the transportation industry driving for Ryder and eventually Sherwin-Williams. Like his father, James, Wendell was a jack of all trades and could fix just about anything. He was often the first call that his family would make when they needed help fixing something.
Wendell was a skilled driver as well and took great pride in his trucking career. While working for Sherwin-Williams, Wendell’s work took him throughout the country, including Florida and New York, and across the Canadian Border. It was at Sherwin-Williams in 1996 that Wendell would meet the love of his life, Cindy, and they wed in 1999 at their favorite vacation spot, Myrtle Beach, SC. Their marriage was one based on friendship. Cindy and Wendell would often sit on their deck in the summer months and “just talk” for hours.
In 2000, Wendell began working at Domino Sugars refinery in Baltimore, where he would go on to form long-lasting friendships, especially with Ron, Denise, and Vincent. Wendell worked for Domino for 20 years before retiring in 2021. When Wendell was not at work, you could usually find him at home watching NASCAR, “tinkering” in his shed, washing his cars, or checking in on his parents and siblings. Wendell loved music and enjoyed listening to a variety of genres. He especially enjoyed listening to Anita Baker, Alan Jackson, and The Gap Band.
To know Wendell was to love him. He was a devoted husband, father, son, brother, and friend. He took great pride in his children and grandchildren and was fiercely protective of his family. Wendell proudly claimed the title of “Mamma’s Boy” and deeply loved his mother, Annie, and father, James.
Wendell leaves to cherish his memory a devoted wife of 27 years, Cindy; children, Michelle, Terrell, Iris, Wendy, and Kyle; grandchildren, Marcus, McKenzie, Kayden, Junie, Logan, James, and Austyn; brothers, Robert and Andre; sisters, Warnest and Laura; daughter-in-law, Krissa; best-friends, Ron and Vincent; and a host of extended family and friends.
The Rivers Family extends their thanks to Linden Village for the care that they gave Wendell over the past year and a half.
Viewing will be held on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Christman’s Funeral Home & Cremation Services Inc., 226 Cumberland St., Lebanon, with services starting at 1 p.m. Burial will be at Millbach Cemetery following the service.
