Thelma Jo (Smith) Hensley

Thelma Jo (Smith) Hensley, 79, of Argos passed away on November 18, 2021 at 3:15 p.m. surrounded by her family at her residence. On May 10, 1942 in North Judson, she was born to Rolla and Grace (Minnix) Smith. She lived in the Argos community since 1963.

On May 25, 1963 in Knox, she married John Hensley and together they shared the next 23 years before he passed away on November 7, 1986.

Thelma worked at R.R. Donnelley & Sons for 28 years before retiring in 1998. After retirement, she was the primary caretaker of her eldest brother, Wilburn Smith, until his passing in 2012.

She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ, Argos and attended Knox High School. Some of her favorite things in life included thrift shopping, a warm, sunny day, and a good cup of coffee. Everybody who had the honor of knowing Thelma knew that she was a fun, feisty, hardworking woman with that signature eye roll.

Thelma is survived by her daughters: Deborah O’Connor of Fort Wayne, Reva (Eric) Anglin of Warsaw, Peggy (Brad) Watkins of Plymouth, and Pheby Hensley of Warsaw; sons: Stephen Hensley of Argos and Mark Hensley of Argos; 16 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren, with another to arrive shortly; sisters: Linda (Carl) Wojciechowski of Knox, Brenda Long of Monterey, Bernice Carter of South Bend, Elaine (Julio) Martin of Hialeah, FL, Yvonne (Ron) Dailey of Grovertown, Cindy Polsinelli of Maryville, TN, and Gwendolyn (Dean) Good of Monterey; brother, Roy Dean Smith of Grovertown; and her longtime best friends, Sharon Powell and Ethel Stone both of Argos.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband; son, DeWayne O’Connor; grandson, Brandon Lowe; and brothers, Wilburn Smith, Robert Smith, James Smith, Roger Smith, Everett Smith, and Howard Lawson Smith.

Friends may visit with the family on Wednesday, November 24, 2021 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ, 15676 Michigan Road, Argos. Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. at the church, with Rev. Lloyd Howard, James Snyder, and Junior Wagers. Burial will follow at the Akron IOOF Cemetery, Akron.

The family requests you donate in her memory to the Church of Jesus Christ, 15676 Michigan Road, Argos.

The family would like to express their gratefulness to Kindred Hospice in Rochester for the care they provided for their mother.

Arrangements have been entrusted with the Earl-Grossman Funeral Home.

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