Wilda V. Bender

We cherished the life of Wilda V. Bender. She was called home April 18, 2013 to be with the Lord. She was born October 2, 1943, in Trenton, Kentucky, to Mary Elizabeth “Bell” Peterson-Jessup and John Peterson. She was married to Tom Bender Sr., faithful husband of 45 years, before his passing. She was the mother of five children, grandmother of twenty grandchildren, and great-grandmother of ten great-grandchildren. She was a member of Queen Ann Baptist Church of Trenton, Kentucky. She accepted Christ into her life at a young age. She rededicated her life at Second Baptist Church in Kokomo. She enjoyed being around her family, playing cards and planting in her garden. They referred her as G-momma. She enjoyed being around her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and caring for them all. She worked at Howard Regional Hospital, Delco and was also a housekeeper to a lot of people and hotels. She worked at Kindred Healthcare and retired from there in 2009. She was preceded in death by her lifelong sweetheart and husband, Tom L. Bender Sr., one grandson and two granddaughters, her mother and father, four sisters and two brothers. Survivors include Virginia Bender, Darlene (Kevin) Bender, Robert Keith (Kimberly) Bender, John A. Bender, all of Kokomo, and Tommy L. Bender Jr. of Lafayette; three sisters; one brother; twenty grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; best friend, Ida Cohen; her faithful companion, Tab her dog; and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins. She will be sadly missed by everyone. The funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Sunset Memory Garden Funeral Home. Entombment will follow in Sunset Memory Garden Cemetery. Friends may call from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Online condolences to the family can be made at www.sunsetmemorygarden.com.