Katie Lawanda Benzel

Lawanda was born August 29, 1929 in Hayti Missouri to Dollie and Ollie Jones. She was raised in Hayti along with her sister and three brothers. At the age of 18 she followed her brother Bill to Walla Walla, WA. where she met Albert Benzel. They were married on October 1, 1949. Lawanda’s greatest joy was being a wife to Albert and mother to her two children.

After the death of her husband in 1986, she worked for a short time for the Walla Walla School District lunch program before she started working at Green & Jackson Drug, where she would eventually retire in 2005. During retirement she was an active member and volunteer at the Walla Walla Senior Center. Lawanda was a valued member of Christ Lutheran Church, where she participated in the quilting and walking groups.

Nothing gave Lawanda more joy in her life than her family, especially gatherings to celebrate holidays and birthdays. The 4th of July at Pioneer Park and birthdays at Rooks Park were highlights every year.

She is survived by her two children, June Honeycutt (David Jones) of North Bend, WA, Gary Benzel (Darcey Benzel) of Walla Walla, WA, one sister Opal Anderson of Beaverton, OR, and four grandchildren Becky Benzel of Walla Walla, Andrew Benzel of New Bern NC, Kirsten Benzel of Walla Walla, and Colby Jones of North Bend, WA. She also has two great-grandsons.

She was preceded in death by her mother and father, her husband Albert Benzel, and three brothers Roscoe Jones, William Jones, and John Jones.

Funeral Service will be held on Friday, December 1, 2017 at 1:00 PM at Christ Lutheran Church,1420 South Second Ave Walla Walla, WA. Interment will follow at Mountain View Cemetery.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the Christ Lutheran Church Memorial Fund through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home 315 W Alder Walla Walla, WA.