Emelda Bentley

Emelda Bentley November 19, 1929 October 6, 2015 Emelda Bentley, 85, of Woodway, a follower of Jesus Christ since her teenage years, was welcomed into the Kingdom of God on Tuesday, October 6, 2015. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m., Friday, October 9, in the Garden Room of Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey. She will be remembered and her life celebrated in a Memorial Service at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, October 10, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Chapel conducted jointly by The Rev. Sharron L. Cox of St. Paul's Episcopal Church and The Rev. Maurice Walker. Immediately following the service, the family will receive friends and relatives for fellowship and refreshments in the Great Hall at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, located on the corner of 5th and Columbus in Downtown Waco. Emelda Dorilag Salcedo Bentley was delivered into this world at home on her family's sugar plantation by midwife Tuesday, November 19, 1929, to Benigno Salcedo and Maximina Dorilag Salcedo on the Philippine Island of Negros. She was the last girl born out of 12 children. While on a pleasure cruise to the Island of Corregidor on Easter Sunday in 1953, she met a young U.S. Air Force Officer on leave and travelling the Far East with friends. After a year-long courtship, they were married on his fourth visit- St. Valentine's Day, the 14th of February, in 1954, at the historic Ellinwood Presbyterian Church in the Old District of Malate. Their wedding reception was given at the famed Manila Hotel. Emelda and her husband, Marvin D. Bentley, enjoyed a 61-year marriage until he preceded her in death in March of this year. Together they raised four children and had a tremendous amount of fun with their grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as their beloved pets, Holly, Filbert and Gracie. They loved to travel whether it be a weekend away or lengthy trips exploring various parts of the United States or extended trips abroad. She delighted her friends with gracious hospitality, often in large groups, and was a wonder in the kitchen-cooking Chop-suey, Garlic Chicken and BBQ and baking Butterhorns, German Chocolate Cake and Italian Cream Cake. Homemade ice-creams were among her specialties, especially Mango, Young Coconut Buko and Tutti Frutti. A survivor of the brutal Japanese occupation of the Philippines during World War II, she attended boarding school in Bacolod, the provincial capital, from which she was graduated in 1949. In 1951, Emelda earned her Teaching Certification in Education from West Negros College. She also attended the University OfNorth Dakota while her husband was stationed at Grand Forks Air Force Base. In 1972, she was graduated with the Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from Baylor University. Emelda Bentley, always known for her engaging smile, her bright and beautifully-colored wardrobe and her deep love of flowers, enjoyed a long and much-lauded career as an Elementary Educator. She taught kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th grades at Midway ISD, St. Albans Episcopal School, Waco ISD, and in Grand Forks. She was continually recognized for her talent, passion and expertise in the classroom and she served as mentor to countless student teachers. Upon retirement from the classroom, she worked as a consultant and supervisor at Baylor University where she provided valuable insight to the Education Department and the State of Texas while training former Baylor students during their first year of teaching in Waco area school districts. Emelda also was honored to serve as president of Delta Kappa Gamma, a much-respected professional honorary society of women educators. Emelda was preceded in death by her husband, Major Marvin Bentley, USAF Ret., her parents, Benigno and Maximina Salcedo, and her 11 siblings. She is survived by her brother-in-law, Eldon Bentley and wife, Joan, of Simpsonville, SC; her children, Casey Bentley-Craig and husband, John Craig III, of Harker Heights; Susan Joyce Bentley Johnson and husband, the Rev. Randy Johnson, of Schwenksville, PA, Jay Marvin Bentley of Waco; David Allan Bentley and wife, Lynda Burke Bentley, of Houston, stepson, Dale Bentley, of Salem, OH and Barbara Allyn of Tucson, AZ. Grandchildren, R. Parker Allen Bentley de Lucia of Waco; Jack William Lewis II and wife, Marianne, of Allen, TX; Alan Bennett Johnson and wife, Mandy, of Lancaster, PA, Casen Gregg DeLucia and wife, Charlsa, of Marlin, TX, Amy Virginia Johnson Harwick and husband, Andrew, of Schwenksville, PA; Skyler Allyn Bentley and Greyson Allan Bentley both of Tucson, AZ and Melissa Scoblick Estes and husband, Brock, of Houston. Great-grandchildren, Jake William, Olive Piper, Adeline Mae, Clementine Pearl, Gracie Elizabeth, Harrison Dean, Jacob Cooper, Henry Oliver, Juniper Eisley, Presley Ann and Blakely Grace, along with numerous beloved nieces and nephews. The family would especially like to recognize Lucy and Jos lvarez, Pam and Eddie Dominik, Dr. Karen Patterson, Aurora McKee, Vi Johnson, Daisy and Sabas Rivera, Luz and Mike Cosby, Sue Milam Reed, Heidi and Dr. W. "Sonny" Kunkel, Jeanette McCauley, Pam McKethan, Susan Brown Davis, Dr. Virgil, Cecille and Colin Carandang, Dr. Chien and Jean Tsai, Michelle Wells, Dr. Dahlia and Danny Garces, Jennifer Robbins, Sophie and Jim Ho, the Rev. Maurice Walker, the Rev. Sharron Cox, Jeanie Johnson, Chef Lynn Krause, Dr. Jack Lewis, Jean Perry Garner, Pat Clemens, Luby Moss, Gay Nell Smith, Margie Morgan, the Rev. Chuck Treadwell, Drane Kendall Haw, Hannah Haw Weldon, Dr. Vik Patel, Nurse Courtney of Hillcrest 4 South, the Staff at Ridgecrest Assisted Living-with all their beautiful smiles and warm hugs; and Bluebonnet Hospice, especially, Gwen, Patricia, Kim and Jason. We are so deeply grateful for the love, friendship, support, kindness, loyalty, service and care which each of you has generously given our family. Thank you. Pallbearers are David A. Bentley, the Rev. Randy Johnson, R. Parker Allen Bentley de Lucia, Jack William Lewis II, Alan B. Johnson, Casen G. DeLucia and John H. Craig III. Honorary pallbearers are Eldon Bentley, Greyson Allan Bentley, Sabas Rivera, Mike Cosby, Dr. Virgil Carandang, Dr. W. "Sonny" Kunkel, Eddie Dominik and Tom Pelt. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Rector's Discretionary Fund at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 601 Columbus Ave. Waco, TX 76701. Please note "Bentley/Rector's Discretionary Fund" with your memorial. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.WHBfamily.com.