Verma Dell (Tolley) Hensley

Verma Dell (Tolley) Hensley, 93, of Evansville, IN, passed away Monday, November 29, 2021, at Evansville Protestant Home.

Verma was born on November 8, 1928, in Hamilton County, near Middle Creek, IL, to Vernie Vinson and Nola Edna (Erwin) Tolley. She married Carl Hensley on August 1, 1954. They were married 41 years before Carl passed away on March 25, 1996.

Verma graduated from McLeansboro High School in 1946. She began working as a switchboard operator at the General Telephone Company in McLeansboro. She liked to recall the dramatic events of V-Day in 1945 when she was working all alone on a five-person switchboard and “every light on the board” lit up. She couldn’t imagine what had happened as she frantically tried to keep up with all the in-coming calls. Finally, a friend called to share the wonderful news that World War 2 had been declared over.

Verma then worked at George Koch and Son in Evansville for nearly 25 years as the receptionist and switchboard operator. She enjoyed her time there and always looked forward to lunches with her friends, the “Koch Girls.” She also treasured her special “Washington Avenue” neighbors, Linda and Ken, Elsie, Jane, Melvin, and Bonnie.

Verma was a faithful member of First Southern Baptist Church in Evansville. She was proud to wear her pink jacket as a volunteer at St. Mary’s Hospital and enjoyed volunteering with the American Cancer Society arranging drivers to transport patients to their appointments. Verma enjoyed crochet and needlepoint and made many beautiful things for family and friends. She always looked forward to spending time with her family and friends.

The family would like to thank the staff at Evansville Protestant Home for their loving care of Verma. Memorials may be made to First Southern Baptist.

Verma is survived by her stepson, John Hensley (Diane); grandsons, Jeff and Steven Hensley; sister, Ida Lue Wilson; brother, Bill Tolley; sister-in-law, Edith Robinson; nephews, Mike Johnson (Alice), Dan Greer (Betsy), and Jesse Dale; nieces, Carolyn Nimmons (Howard), Beth Kennon (Ron), Loralea Liss (David), and Teresa Fields (Dave).

Verma was preceded in death by her parents; Vernie and Edna Tolley; brother, Cecil Tolley; and nieces, Mary Duncan and Rosanna Dale.

Funeral Services will be held at 12:00 p.m., Friday, December 3, 2021, at Boone Funeral Home East Chapel – A Family Tradition Funeral Home, 5330 Washington Avenue with Pastor David Cullison officiating. A Live Stream will be available beginning twenty minutes prior to the service time. Please visit www.boonefuneralhome.net, select your loved one’s obituary, scroll to the bottom of the page, and click Live Stream. Burial will be in Oddfellows Cemetery in McLeansboro, IL.

Friends may visit from 10:00 a.m. until service time, Friday, December 3, 2021, at Boone Funeral Home East Chapel.

Memorial Contributions may be made to: American Cancer Society at 318 Main Street, Evansville, IN 47708 and First Southern Baptist Church at 25 South Cullen Avenue, Evansville, IN 47715.

Condolences may be made to the family online at boonefuneralhome.net

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