Lillian (Hibbs) Mendenhall (1933)

HIBBS, MENDENHALL, SMITH

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler
Date: 1/18/2015 at 15:07:27

The Earlham Echo
Earlham, Iowa
Thursday, August 31, 1933

BELOVED TEACHER IS CALLED HOME

Mrs. Lillian Mendenhall, For 40 Years an Instructor in Earlham Public Schools, Passed Away Sunday Morning. Interment Was at Bear Creek Tuesday.

In the Spring of 1866—April 17th—just as mother earth was beginning to take on new life, foliage of plants and trees beginning to come forth a little new life came to the home of Valentine and Lydia Smith-Hibbs at their home in the Bear Creek neighborhood. There were already four brothers and three sisters in this home but she was cared for and loved as only true loving parents can. They called her Lillie L. Here she grew to womanhood, attending school and later attending and graduating at what was then known as the Dexter Normal College. She then became a teacher and after a few years in the school-room was married to Jesse J. Mendenhall April 17, 1890.

Two little boys, L. Leland and Otha H. came to bless this home. But the little family was soon deprived of the loving care of the husband and father, he being called to his Eternal home Sept. 29, 1899.

Soon after his passing Lillie again took up school work—first, attending college in Des Moines for a time and then teaching again, which she continued until the Spring of 1920 when a severe illness made it impossible to continue. Since that time it has been a steady decline and on the morning of August 27, 1933 her spirit slipped away to be with the loved ones over there.

She was a birthright member of the Friends Church and early in life gave her heart to the Master and has continued a willing worker in His Vineyard all these years as health would permit.

During the last week of her illness when asked, “If she would like to go,” she replied “Not until He wants me to.”

Besides the two sons and their wives she is survived by one grandson, Otho H. Mendenhall, Jr., two brothers, W. T. Hibbs of Redfield and S. F. Hibbs, of Greenleaf, Idaho, also many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends who will remember her with much tenderness and love.

Funeral services were held at the Bear Creek church Tuesday afternoon, conducted by Rev. Nora Craven assisted by Rev. Brubaker of Des Moines.

Music by the quartet composed of Lloyd Mendenhall, Oren Hadley, Alma Mapes and Gertrude Conrad with Bernice Hadley at the piano, also a beautiful solo by Mrs. Ralph Hunter of Earlham.

Those from a distance who attended the services were: Rev. and Mrs. Brubaker, Mr. Brewer and Mr. and Mrs. Hal McCowin of Des Moines; Mrs. Atkinson and Miss Vera Leonard of Yale; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wood of New Providence; Mrs. Hulda Kenworthy of Sugar City, Colorado.

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