Edith Dawson Cooke, who was 12 at the time of Mendos' death, said that his father wanted Mendos to work in the vineyards, even though he knew Mendos was ill. After a full day of work, Mendos' throat was very sore. Clinton and he were driving home in the rain when something needed to be checked with the tires. Disregarding Mendos' illness, Clinton made him get out and check the tire in the rain. It appeared the tire needed changing, which Mendos did, while his father waited in the car out of the rain. That night, Mendos became much sicker. The family finally decided to go for the doctor, but before he came, Mendos was dead. According to his death certificate, he died of influenza followed by "labor pneumonia," that lasted two days. Contributing to the death was "scarlet fever", which lasted four days. Some family members said his mother's heart was broken by the loss of her oldest son. It was said she held Mendos' father responsible for his death for many years.
Edith Dawson Cooke, who was 12 at the time of Mendos' death, said that his father wanted Mendos to work in the vineyards, even though he knew Mendos was ill. After a full day of work, Mendos' throat was very sore. Clinton and he were driving home in the rain when something needed to be checked with the tires. Disregarding Mendos' illness, Clinton made him get out and check the tire in the rain. It appeared the tire needed changing, which Mendos did, while his father waited in the car out of the rain. That night, Mendos became much sicker. The family finally decided to go for the doctor, but before he came, Mendos was dead. According to his death certificate, he died of influenza followed by "labor pneumonia," that lasted two days. Contributing to the death was "scarlet fever", which lasted four days. Some family members said his mother's heart was broken by the loss of her oldest son. It was said she held Mendos' father responsible for his death for many years.
