Winona C. Benchoff

Winona C. Benchoff, 93, of Abilene, passed away Monday, October 12, 2015 at a local nursing home. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm on Thursday, October 15, 2015 at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Burial will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park. Friends may come by to view and sign the guest register book from 12:00 Noon to 8:00 pm on Wednesday at the funeral home. Winona was born on November 16, 1921 in Fisher County, Texas to Harriet Elizabeth (Gooch) Cummings and John Virgil Cummings. She worked in retail clothing sales and retired from Timex in 1977. Winona married John Howard Benchoff in 1942. He preceded her in death in 1987. She was a member of Oakland Drive Church of Christ, and was the last remaining founding member when the church closed, after 50 years. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, one daughter, Kathy Diane in 1982, two brothers and three sisters. Winona is survived by two daughters, Sandra Hayes and husband Tom of Garland, Judy Shaw and husband Bill of Abilene; two grandchildren, Kimberly Shahan and husband Keith of Abilene, Whitney May and husband Michael of Carrollton; two great-grandchildren, Maddock May and Garrett Shahan, who are both attending ACU; as well as many other family members and friends. Winona was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was adored by all that knew her and will be greatly missed by those whose lives she touched. The family would like to acknowledge Jerry Turner for being so kind and respectful to their mother, as well as many others who helped her. Memorials may be made in Winona’s honor to KERA PBS TV, 3000 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75201 or to the Taylor-Jones Humane Society, 2301 North 3rd Street, Abilene, TX 79603.