Bernice Mildred Renfro Wendt

Bernice Mildred Renfro Wendt left to be with Jesus on Sunday, December 27, 2009, from her home. She was born on February 14, 1916, on a ranch near Fallon, Nevada to Charles Wesley Renfro and Margaret Iola Shipe. She graduated from the St. Luke Hospital School of Nursing in San Francisco, California as a registered nurse. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, she sailed with the first group of Red Cross nurses who were sent to Honolulu, Hawaii to assist the civilian population. While working in Honolulu, she met her future husband, U.S. Army Captain Emerson F. Wendt of Middletown, Ohio. They were married on January 30, 1946 and lived out the rest of their lives in Middletown.

Bernice worked at Middletown Regional Hospital as supervisor of surgery for several years but her favorite roles were those of wife, mother and grandmother. She cooked thousands of delicious meals and sewed hundreds of garments for family members and friends. She was an active member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church participating in the Women's Circle and the Quilting Circle for many years. She played golf with the Armco Park Women's League until she was 85 years old. Bernice was always pleasant, cheerful and friendly. Even as she endured Alzheimer's Disease, her sweet personality made her a pleasure to care for.

Preceding her in death were her husband; parents; three brothers, Donald Renfro, Wes Bauman and Milton Rector; three sisters, Eleanor Oats Harrigan, Della Oats and Helen Bradley; and one grandson, Jip Hoerst.

She is survived by three daughters, Barbara (Rick) Nein, Deborah Wendt and Linda (Larry) Shoemaker, all of Middletown; six grandchildren, Eloni Hoerst, Chad (Keely) Walton, Ben Shoemaker, Chris Shoemaker, Matt Shoemaker and Joni Shoemaker; four great grandchildren, Abbi Hoerst, Brian Hoerst, Macy Walton and Tanner Walton; and one brother, Charles Wesley Renfro Jr.

Friends are invited to visit with the family on Thursday, December 31, 2009 from 10:00 – 11:00 AM at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, followed by a celebration of life service at 11:00 AM with Pastor Michelle Terry officiating. Burial will be in Woodside Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 212 South Broad St., Middletown, Ohio 45044.

Funeral Home:
Wilson-Schramm-Spaulding
3805 Roosevelt Blvd.
Middletown, OH
US 45044