Services for Gerald Dufur McLendon, 96, will be held at 2:00 PM. Saturday, April 14, 2018 at Oak Ridge United Methodist Church with Reverend Nat Barnett officiating. Visitation will be 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM, Saturday, April 14, 2018 at Oak Ridge Methodist Church. Burial will be at the Oak Ridge Baptist Cemetery under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Home of Monroe.Gerald was born in Atlanta, Columbia County, Arkansas on March 24, 1922. His family moved to Morehouse Parish during his early years and he was graduated from Oak Ridge High School. While attending Louisiana Tech he was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity and graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering. He also attended Georgia Tech and Harvard Business School. Gerald was a registered professional engineer and a registered surveyor in Louisiana.Following his service in the Navy during World War II, Gerald career was in the electric utility business, mostly in the New Orleans area where he retired as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Louisiana Power and Light Company and New Orleans Public Service, Inc. He also served on the Board of Directors of New Orleans Public Service, Inc, and the National Bank of Commerce in Jefferson Parish. While living in the New Orleans area, Gerald was active in various business and civic organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce, Jefferson Business Men Organization, International House, Plimsoll Club, Electrical Association, Engineer Club, Colonial Country Club, Pendenis Club and various carnival organizations.After retirement, Gerald and his wife Irene moved to Oak Ridge where he became active and served on the board of the Bastrop-Morehouse Chamber of Commerce, Morehouse Economic Development Corporation and Mayor of Oak Ridge for 12 years. Gerald was a director of the Bank of Oak Ridge.Gerald was active in the Methodist Church and held responsible positions in the towns of Ferriday, Gretna, Harahan and Oak Ridge. His family history in the Methodist Church goes back to the mid 1850 when his great-grandfather was a Circuit Rider in Arkansas.Preceding him in death were his parents, Elmer and Alverne McLendon; his wife of 73 years, Irene Wimberly McLendon; his brother, James Wallace McLendon.Survivors include daughter, Jerelyn McLendon; son, Wallace McLendon and wife Kate; daughter, Ginger McLendon Foley and husband, Mark; grandchildren, Russell McLendon and wife Meryl, Kristy Roper Kennedy, M.D. and husband Adam, M.D., Julie French, Randle Roper, Stephen Roper and wife Crystal; great- grandchildren, Claudia McLendon, Patrick McLendon, Wally Kennedy, Lilly Kennedy, James Kennedy, Graham Kennedy, Julian French, Austin Roper, Brayden Roper, Chase Roper, Dayne Roper, Ethan Roper, Finn Roper; nieces and nephews.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Oak Ridge United Methodist Church, Oak Ridge, LA 71264 or Louisiana Methodist Children Home, 904 Deville Lane, Ruston, LA or the Wounded Warrior Project, 4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300, Jacksonville, FL 32256.