Wanda Jean Hinkle

Wanda Jean Sheppard Hinkle was born on August 14, 1933 in Blooming Grove, Texas to Thomas Gilmer Sheppard and Gladys Elizabeth Bell Sheppard. She went to be with her Lord and Savior on February 22, 2019 in Cypress, Texas. Jean graduated at the age of 16 with the Blooming Grove High School class of 1950. Jean and most of her classmates remained very close throughout the years. They never missed an opportunity to get together and visit. They stayed in contact and supported one another during the good and bad times in life. BGHS was very important to them all. Jean married Benny Wayne Hinkle on October 20, 1950 and they were able to celebrate 45 years of marriage before Benny passed away on February 5, 1995. During their marriage they took dance lessons and loved to spend time dancing with a large group of friends. Benny and Jean were blessed with two daughters to raise. They were the greatest parents a girl could ask for in life. Jean worked at Brookshire's Grocery store for some time and then accepted a job at First State Bank of Blooming Grove. The bank changed names to Prosperity Bank and Jean was later moved to the Corsicana branch of the bank, in all she gave them over 40 years of service. Jean was also a very active member of her community. She helped create the BGHS Ex-Student Association, BG Historical Society and the Ruth Ramsey Scholarship Fund. The scholarship fund has grown larger every year and has helped many students have the opportunity to attend college. She served on the BG City Council and was a member of the Lion’s Club. Jean helped in money making projects for many organizations including the BG Volunteer Fire Department and the BG Parent Teacher Association. Jean was a force to be reckoned with when she wanted something to succeed. After marrying Benny, Jean joined the First United Methodist Church where she became a very active member, serving on the board and working diligently on the annual Lord’s Acre fund raising project. She loved her church and church family very much. She never passed up an opportunity to serve where she was needed. Jean was a true servant of the Lord, she worked with a passion to serve her family and those who were grieving, in need or celebrating. She was there with gifts in hand, food to eat and her famous baked goods. Jean’s Buttermilk Pound and Italian Cream cakes were the most famous of all. They were given for occasions all over Navarro County. The cakes were donated to many fund raising projects, in which bidding wars commenced. The saying, “she would give you the shirt off her back” was written to describe her. It would have been a pretty shirt too. Jean was a classy lady who did everything to perfection, which included never leaving the house unless she was dressed with jewelry in place and her hair styled. She loved to use her pretty tablecloths, matching cloth napkins, best dishes, glassware and silverware and put all the food she prepared in her fancy serving dishes at every meal. It was a real treat to sit at her table and eat the delicious food she prepared. Jean loved her daughters, grandchildren and great children with all her heart. She got such joy from spending time with them and celebrating every day life and big occasions with them. She always said that the titles for the children you love were so appropriate, you get “grand” children and then you are given “great” grandchildren. Jean would do anything to see them all happy and succeed in life. She would encourage them to follow their dreams and never doubt themselves. Jean is preceded in death by husband Benny, parents Gilmer and Gladys Sheppard, sister Audrey Fay Sheppard Kagler, brother Thomas “Sonny” Sheppard, great grandson Mitchell Beaux Hatley. Survivors include daughters Cathy Hinkle Ward, Janie Hinkle Hatley and husband Tony, granddaughter Christie Ward Schultz and husband Christopher, grandsons Zane Ward and wife Sandra, Micah Hatley and wife Erin, Jessie Hatley and wife Sarah, great grandchildren Chloe and Cohen Schultz, Charlotte and Georgia Hatley, Ella, Mason, Wyatt and Evelyn Hatley. In Jean’s final days of life, she enjoyed living at Avanti Senior Living Towne Lake in Cypress, Texas where she had many special caregivers she could not speak more highly of and such wonderful friends. She never stopped missing her beloved Blooming Grove, but she was given amazing care to the end. Services will be held February 27, 2019 in the sanctuary of the First United Methodist Church in Blooming Grove, Texas. Visitation will be from 1:00-2:30 pm, funeral at 3:00 pm and a graveside service will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery in Blooming Grove, where she will be buried by her loving husband. Pallbearers will be Micah Hatley, Jessie Hatley, Zane Ward, Christopher Schultz, Lee Grounds and Noah Grounds. Arrangements by Griffin Roughton Funeral Home of Corsicana, Texas. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please make a donation to the Ruth Ramsey Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 54, Blooming Grove, Texas 76626

Wanda Jean Hinkle

August 14, 1933 - February 22, 2019