Trunella Trent
BLOOMINGTON -- Trunella E. Trent, 87 of 1409 N. Oak St., Bloomington, died peacefully at 10:35 p.m. Friday, (March 26, 2004) at her home in Bloomington.
Her funeral will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Normal. Bishop Jack Mapes will officiate. Burial will be in Park Hill Cemetery, Bloomington. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at the Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home, Bloomington, and for one hour prior to the service on Tuesday at the church.
Memorials may be made to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Humanitarian Aid Fund or to BroMenn Hospice Program.
She was born Sept. 19, 1916, in Bloomington, a daughter of Guy T. and Nellie K. O'Brien Walker and was welcomed home by them and an older sister, Ruth.
She is survived by two stepdaughters, Margaret "Peg" (John) Sanford, Saugatuck, Mich.; and Judy (Mel) Hess, Loves Park; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents and one sister.
She graduated from University High School in Normal in 1934 at 15 years old and received a teaching degree and a master's degree from Illinois State University.
She began her teaching career in rural schools at age 17 and later served two years as principal in Shirley Grade School.
In Towanda, she taught first grade for 18 years and served as principal for three years. She then served as principal at Colleen Hoose and then worked as principal at Eugene Field the last nine years. She retired from Unit 5 School District in 1977 after working 41 years.
She married Ben Trent on Nov. 23, 1966. They enjoyed a full life together for 22 years, enjoying family, traveling, crafts, church and their church family. He died in 1988.
She was a member of Home Sweet Home Mission Women's Auxiliary and the Retired Teacher's of McLean County. She was a member of the N.W. Neighborhood Association and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She had prepared countless programs for all of those groups and served as an officer in most.
She administered the GED test at the Bloomington Courthouse for 17 years after her retirement.
She was Altrusa's Volunteer Woman of the Year in 1980. She was also a member of the Normal Hobby Club, the Normal Unit of McLean County Homemakers Extension Association and was a charter member of Alpha Delta Kappa Lambda Chapter, for which she held numerous local, state and international offices.
She was an active and vivacious woman all through her 27 years of retirement. Trunella was a mentor to many children and adults. She and her husband, Ben, were avid craft makers, and even after his passing she continued these various hobbies and distributed the wide variety of articles to senior citizens throughout the community. All those who were fortunate enough to have known this very special lady will miss her wisdom, humor, and loving touch.Trunella was my second-cousin one time removed. Her grandfather Samuel Walker (1860-1933) was my great-grandfather Henry Walker, Jr.'s older brother.
Her family members would like to thank all those thoughtful members of her church and community who helped make her life more enjoyable. She will be laid to rest next to her loving parents and husband.
Copyright © 2014 by Kevin W. Walker
I remember Ben & Trudy well. They sat with us at church and helped with our 4 small children.
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