Laura Birtie Hendrix Westhoff

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Laura Birtie Hendrix Westhoff, 92, of Ocala, Fla., passed away on Aug. 19, 2009, at Legacy House Hospice, in Ocala. A native of Kenneth, Kan., she was born on Nov. 22, 1916, to Arthur and Cora Hendrix (Turner) and was a retired seretary for W.P. Fuller and Company, Los Angeles.

Laura was also the first woman to be licenseed to drive tractor-trailers in the state of Kansas and, in fact, loved to work outdoors. She was a member of the Redbridge Methodist Church, in Grandview. She married Henry Robert Westhoff on Oct. 21, 1933, and he passed away on Feb. 14, 1997, after 64 years of marriage.

Mrs. Westhoff is survived by sons Robert and William Westhoff; six grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren. In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Henry R. Westhoff Jr., on Nov. 30, 1991; six siblings Naomi, Edward, Goldie, Joseph, Violia; and her twin brother Charlie; a granddaughter, Lisa Henry, and two great-great-grandsons.

Funeral services will be held today at Forest Lawn Funeral Home, Ocala, Fla., with pastor John Downing officiating. Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m., Aug. 25, at Belton Cemetery, Belton, Mo.