Velma Lee Hendrix, 91, died September 17, at Colonial Assisted Living. Wow, what a life God gave to her! She was a truly caring and special person who loved everyone. She always had a smile on her face, a song in her heart, and a kind word for everyone.
Velma was born on the outskirts of Bicknell, Indiana on August 18, 1924 to Charles and Inez Beasley. She was raised mainly in Oakland City and Petersburg, Indiana where she graduated from high school. She was the oldest of two daughters and raised as a tomboy.
Velma worked on cars with her dad, roofed houses, raised chickens and goats, raced motoboats on the Wabash River at age 12, and played drums in the Drum & Bugle Corp at Petersburg High School.
She worked at Buchanan Drug Store as a teen. There she met a co-worker who became the love of her life. He was a tall, skinny, string-bean of a guy named Eli Hendrix, Jr. When Eli went off to boot camp during World War II, Velma attended nurses training and received her RN fron Deaconness Hospital in Evansville, IN.
Velma and Eli were married on Sept. 22, 1945 and shortly after their wedding, they moved to Vincennes where Velma worked as a nurse in the Men’s Ward in the old Memorial Wing of Good Samaritan Hospital. She later worked in private practice for Dr. Richard “Rip” Anderson, an orthopedic surgeon.
Velma gave up full-time nursing ahortly after starting a family. About this time, she began her next career which was dedicated to volunteer service. Velma and Eli made 7 trips to the backwoods of Haiti on Vision Missions giving donated eyeglasses to the poor and needy.
Velma volunteered with or served on the boards of RSVP, Sr. Citizen’s Center, NW Territory Art Guild, NW Territory Historical Socirty, Good Samaritan Hospital Auxiliary, Salvation Army, Garden Club, YMCA, Veteran’s & USO Canteen, Red Cross, Fortnightly, Lawrenceville United Methodist Village, and the First United Methodist Church.
Most recently people remember Velma as a dedicated volunteer at Good Samaritan Hospital and as the “warm blanket lady” in the Endoscopy Dept. She also loved the china paint and tend roses.
Velma was not looking for recognition or awards for her volunteer services and was surprised when she received them. She was the recipient of Civitan Citizen of the Year, Good Smaritan Hospital Humanitarian of the Year, RSVP Volunteer of the Year, and several other Volunteer of the Year Awards.
Velma was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Eli B. Hendrix, Jr. and her parents, Charles and Inez Beasley and her step-father Ezra “Ben” Shoudy.
Velma is survived by her sister, Charlene Draper of Vincennes, three sons, and their wives, EB III and Paula of Lantana, TX, Mark and Melissa of Vincennes, J. Scott and Carla of Vincennes,, and a daughter, Jan Hendrix of Kingwood, TX. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.
Visitation will be at 9:00 am with the funeral to follow at 11 am on Thursday October 1, 2015 at the First United Methodist Church in Vincennes. Online condolences may be made at www.goodwinfamilyfh.com
In lieu of flowers, please give generously to the charities and volunteer groups listed above. Velma would have wanted it that way.