Evelyn Hensley

Services for retired Durham postmaster Evelyn (Schmidt) Hensley, 104, who died Thursday at Cumbernauld Village in Winfield, were Monday at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Tampa.

Born Jan. 22, 1919, in Durham Park Township to Reinhardt and Julia (Nuss) Schmidt, she was baptized March 25, 1919. In 1927, the family moved to a farm south of Tampa. Her mother died two years later.

A 1937 graduate of Tampa High School, she worked in area restaurants and as a housekeeper and cook for a Wichita family before marrying James Hensley on June 24, 1944, at St. John’s.

Once her children were in school, she worked at Havlik Grocery and George’s Market and later as a postal clerk in Tampa and postmaster in Durham.

She was a Sunday school and vacation Bible school teacher, 4-H leader, hospital Pink Lady, and volunteer emergency medical technician. Until age 99, she sewed quilts for missions.

She retired in September 1984 and spent winters in Texas for many years, moving to Winfield in 2003 to be closer to her family.

Her husband died in 1986. Also preceding her in death were a granddaughter and seven siblings: Esther Schmidt, Ruth Klein, Harry Schmidt, Edna Vajnar, Ida Backhus, Frieda Klein, and Reinhardt Schmidt.

Survivors include children Jim Hensley of McKinney, Texas, and Rita Hensley, Pam Moreno, and Julie Utt, all of Winfield; four grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

Memorials have been established with the church and Winfield Food Pantry.