Antone B. Wenda; Men’s Clothing Salesman

Antone B. Wenda, a retired men’s clothing salesman and 36-year resident of Ventura, died Thursday in a local hospital following a brief illness. He was 89.

The youngest of eight children, “Tony,” as he was known, was born July 18, 1907, in Belleville, Kan.

He attended school in Belleville and then moved to Salem, Ore., where he began selling men’s clothing. Later, he joined the Army, working his way up to the rank of sergeant, according to his stepdaughter, Dorothy Colleran, of Ventura.

While in Salem, Wenda met Colleran’s mother, Lillian, and in 1942 they were married.

During World War II, Wenda was stationed at Camp Roberts north of Paso Robles, and after serving a tour of duty in Belgium, he returned to Salem. Wenda returned to selling men’s clothes and he and Lillian stayed in Salem until 1960, when they moved to Ventura.

During his more than 40 years in the clothing business, Wenda worked for, among others, Harris & Frank Clothiers in Ventura. He and Lillian enjoyed traveling and each year they would go back to Wenda’s hometown to visit relatives.

Wenda retired in the 1970s, Colleran said, adding that his wife died in 1990.

“They lived on Eva Street, and everybody on the street knows Tony,” Colleran said.

In addition to Colleran, Wenda is survived by his 99-year-old sister, Pauline Marshall of Belleville. He also is survived by six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

A visitation will be held Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. at Joseph P. Reardon Funeral Home, Ventura. A Mass is scheduled for Monday at 2 p.m. at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Ventura.

Burial at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura will follow the Mass.