Virginia Benke

Virginia “Tippy” Hurt Benke, 83, of Cleburne, Texas went to be with her Lord and Savior peacefully on Sunday, March 5, 2017 in Grandview, Texas. A memorial service celebrating her life will be held at a later date.
Virginia was born on December 23, 1933 in Lamesa, Texas to Virginia (Conn) and Swanson Hurt. She graduated from SMU in 1955 with a degree in Spanish and was a member of the Delta Zeta sorority. While at SMU she met Tom Benke and they married July 27, 1957. Virginia and Tom were members of a supper club with many of their college friends. This club has been meeting regularly for nearly 60 years. Virginia taught in the Dallas ISD for 5 years before starting her family. She returned to teaching in 1977 at Ursuline Academy in Dallas. While at Ursuline, Virginia lead the Sophomore Retreat where she focused on teaching the students about having a personal relationship with Jesus. After retiring from Ursuline, Virginia taught Spanish at Brookhaven Community College in Dallas. Virginia and Tom moved to Cleburne in 2005. They were members of Field Street Baptist Church where Virginia enjoyed teaching women’s Bible studies. She actively lived her faith and dedicated her life to leading others to Jesus.
She was dearly loved and will be missed.
Virginia was preceded in death by her parents; and her sisters, Elizabeth Ledyard and Anne Lamb.
She is survived by her husband, Tom; her sons, Dr. Theodore Benke and wife, Maureen, of Cleburne; Dr. Timothy Benke and wife, Katie Rennie, of Aurora, Colorado; her daughter, Ginna Benke of Cleburne; her grandchildren, Sarah Benton and husband Brandon, Andy Benke, Abi Benke, Tommy Benke, Evan Benke and Robert Benke; great- grandchildren, Hadleigh Benton and Major Benton; nieces Emily Cook and husband Brett; and Becky Lamb; and a host of family, friends and neighbors.
The family would like to extend special thanks to the Grandview Nursing Home and everyone who took such great care of Virginia; Mission Hospice for helping us through this process, and all those who have expressed their love, prayers and support for our family during this time.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Field Street Baptist Church Women’s Ministry, 201 N. Field St, Cleburne, TX 76033, c/o Rev. John Hall, Pastor.