Whanda Nadine Bender

Whanda Nadine Bender, 82, Andover, formerly of Russell, died Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009, at Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care Home.

She was born April 21, 1927, in Cullison to Elby Eliss and Mildred Frances Nadine (Keyton) Romine. She graduated from Pratt High School.

She married Vernon Phillip Bender on June 8, 1946, in Pratt. He preceded her in death May 27, 2001. She was a homemaker.

Survivors include a son, Curtis Bender, Shawnee; three daughters, Phyllis Lyon, Woodlands, Texas, Kathy Nersesian, Las Vegas, and Debora Bender, Andover; three sisters, Virginia Pope, Hearst, Texas, Gladys Nease, Hugoton, and Joe Tredenick, Decatur, Texas; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a daughter, Diana Mermis.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Trinity United Methodist Church, Russell; burial in St. John Lutheran Cemetery, Russell.

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, with family present from 6 to 7 p.m. at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, Russell.

Memorials are suggested to Kansas City Hospice House in care of the mortuary.

Condolences can be sent via e-mail at www.pvpmortuary.com.