Elvera McFadin
"Mac" Benthall, 91, of Evansville, went to be with the Lord on Sunday
morning, Jan. 7, 2007.
She was the daughter of George and Pauline (Gaiser)
McFadin.
Mrs. Benthall was born in 1915 in Centralia, Ill. Her family moved to Mount Vernon, Ind., where she spent her childhood years.
Graduating from Mount Vernon High School and Lockyear Business College, she worked as a bookkeeper and
secretary at Household Finance in Louisville, Ky., and at Baker's Foundry in Columbus, Ind.
After moving to Evansville in 1946, her husband, Fred, joined his
brother, Greene, in Benthall Insulation Company,
which later became the present day Benthall Brothers,
Inc.
Mrs. Benthall was actively involved in
volunteer work at Stringtown Elementary School and North High School during the 1950s and 1960s. She enjoyed
serving as PTA⁄PTO president for many terms.
As a member of the Oak Hill Presbyterian Church, she was active in
the Mr. and Mrs. Class since the late 1940s. She taught the Junior Sunday
School class for 50 years. As a leader in the Women's Ministries, she formed
one of the first integrated Bible studies for women in Evansville.
Mrs. Benthall worked for 30 years in the
Evansville-Vanderburgh County School Corporation as a reading aide at Harwood Middle School, retiring once at the age of 71, then
returning to work the next year until the age of 85. She thoroughly enjoyed
working with her students. After her second retirement, she became a cherished
employee at Benthall Brothers,
Inc.
She was known for her homemade cakes, cookies and pies. Her baking
was appreciated by many, who often received her treats in return for their
kindnesses and services.
Mrs. Benthall's special hobbies were
working in the yard and on her farm in Posey County. As a season ticket holder for 50 years,
she loved to follow University of Evansville basketball.
Mrs. Benthall is preceded in death by
her husband of 32 years, Fred C. Benthall; sisters,
Ruth Gilbert, Irene Johnson, Doris Phillips and Shirley Kerr; and brothers,
Paul McFadin and Woodrow McFadin
Sr.
She is survived by her children, Deedra Benthall of Danville, Ky., Danette Benthall and her husband, Daniel Custer, and Dennis Benthall and wife, Leah, of Mount Vernon; and her six grandchildren, Eli Wolfe Benthall, Seth Benthall Zirkle, Laine Oktober
Benthall, Blake Dakota Benthall,
Sloane Benthall Zirkle and
Vera Laurance "Luque"
Benthall. She is also survived by her beloved sister,
Lola Mae Healy, of Mount Vernon; and family friend and former student,
Donald Phelps.
Services will be held at Oak Hill Evangelical-Free Church on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2007, at 1 p.m., officiated by Pastor Mark Martin,
burial in Welborn United Methodist Church Cemetery in Upton, Posey County, Indiana. Family and friends may visit Tuesday,
Jan. 9, 2007,
from 2
to 8 p.m. at Alexander North Chapel and Wednesday, Jan.
10, 2007, from noon to service time at church.
Memorial contributions may be made to Oak Hill Evangelical-Free Church, 1026 Oak Hill Road, Evansville, Ind. Condolences may be made online at
www.mem.com. Arrangements by Alexander North Chapel, 4200 Stringtown Road.
Published in the Courier
Press on 1⁄8⁄2007.
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Originally submitted by Betty Sellers