VAN NUYS, Calif. – Muriel G. Pendexter, 89, a prominent Maine educator and longtime resident of Lewiston, died in Van Nuys, Calif., on Oct. 2.

She was born in Haverhill, Mass. ,on Oct. 3, 1917. She moved to South Paris with her parents, the late Harold and Mabel Purcell Greenlaw, when she was a small child. She graduated from South Paris High School in 1936; her post graduate education was in the field of early childhood development.

In 1937, she married the late Faunce Pendexter of Norway. The couple were married for almost 64 years. She was active in the Lewiston-Auburn community, where she and Faunce lived for more than 50 years. She served as a corporator of Central Maine Healthcare, was president of the Androscoggin County Tuberculosis Association, president of the Woman’s Literary Union, a member of the Stanton Bird Club and a life-member of the Norway Country Club.

She taught at St. Joseph’s School for two years, then attended an intensive U.S. government-sponsored program in early childhood education at both the University of Maine and Bowdoin College. She was the first Head Start education supervisor in Maine for Head Start programs and served as education supervisor for local childhood enrichment classes in Androscoggin County.

Upon her retirement in 1987, after 21 years directing the Head Start and childhood enrichment education programs, she was recognized for her enduring commitment to children by both the Maine State House of Representatives and Maine Senate.

She moved to the Gardens at Park Balboa in Van Nuys, Calif., on Dec. 1, 2005, to reside near her daughter, Jane (Marston) Delson of Studio City, Calif., formerly of Freeport. She loved all animals, most especially her beloved cat, Callie, and her daughter’s Lipizzaner horse, Patton, whom she continued to visit as late as this past summer.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Richard Delson; a sister, Evelyn Cleveland of Norway; a niece, Jean Delamater of Oxford; and a nephew, James B. Cleveland of Bridgton.

She was predeceased by a brother, Raymond Greenlaw; and a sister-in-law, Hazel Greenlaw, both of Naples, Fla.