Obituary – Joan Hankins – Benton

Joan Hankins, 91, of Benton, passed away at 6:30 p.m. April 8, 2013 at Helia Health Care, in Benton.

She was born in Benton on January 11, 1922, the daughter of Joe and Ethel (Easley) Neal.

She married Charles E. Hankins on Sept. 25, 1944 in Rochester, Michigan, and he preceded her in death on August 28, 2006.

Mrs. Hankins worked for many years at the Franklin Hospital Skilled Care Nursing Unit. She was a member of the West City Church of God.

Mrs. Hankins is survived by two daughters, Pamela Jo Webb and husband Lane, of Benton and Brenda Lee Johns and husband Terry, of Benton.

Also surviving are grandchildren Kacie Jo Allen, of St. Louis, MO, Audrey Filkins and Shawn Loftus, of Thompsonville, Aaron Webb and wife Kristen of Maryville, IL, Nicole Jones and husband Justin, of Kentucky and Jason Johns and wife Liz, serving in the U.S. Army in Afghanistan; great-grandchildren Blake Filkins, Pepper K. Loftus (arriving soon), Aaden Webb, Evie Kay Webb, Sean, Lexie and Wyatt.  She is also survived by three sisters-in-law, Mary Kirk, of Benton, Louise Hammonds, of Michigan and Dorothy Bertetti, of Michigan.

Mrs. Hankins was preceded in death by her parents, her step-father Ed Kirk, her husband and by one brother Leon Kirk and five sisters, Dorothy West, Margaret Kearney, Evelyn Arro, Norma Montoya and Jessie Wilkie.

Graveside memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 14 at the Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton with Pastor Harol Whitlock officiating.  Friends attending the service are requested to meet at the cemetery.  In lieu of flowers memorials in Mrs. Hankins memory can be made to the West City Church of God or to the Benton-West City Food Pantry.

The Morton & Johnston Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.