Juanita Deane Herrada, of Hershey, passed away at the age of 88 on Sunday, March 4, 2018, at Linden Court.
Juanita was born October 20, 1929, to Lauren William and Deane Anderson Grove at Judith Gap, Montana. She grew up in Judith Gap and graduated from high school in 1947. Juanita worked for J.C. Penny’s in Lewistown, Montana for a few years before getting married.
On February 26, 1950, she married Odas Benson at Texarkana, Arkansas, and they later had a daughter, Verna. The couple lived in Greensbayou, Texas for a while then moved to Venezuela for three years. When they returned to the United States they moved to Wellington, Texas, and bought combines to do custom combining for farms stretching from Texas to Canada. By 1970 they settled in Hershey where Juanita drove the school bus and got to know many of the kids, which she really enjoyed, and worked at Butch’s from 1975 until retiring in 2013.
Juanita was united in marriage to Pedro “Pete” Herrada on July 3, 1993, at Maria Lutheran Church in Hershey. They enjoyed being together for over 20 years and liked spending time with Pete’s family. When the smoke was rising around her house, it meant the barbecue was going and fun was rolling in and the family was pitching quarters.
Juanita was a member of Maria Lutheran Church, V.F.W. Post #1504 Auxiliary, Paul R. Martin Post #279 American Legion Auxiliary and a life member of D.A.V. Orlo E. Eglehoff Auxiliary. Juanita loved to do crossword puzzles and was a beautiful seamstress. She sewed everything from wedding dresses (which were not easy) to hemming coats, pants, shirts and dresses and she especially loved quilting, cross-stitching and needle point.
She is survived by her step family she called her own, James (Shannon) Herrada and Stella (Brent) Larreau, of Hershey, Pete Herrada, Jr. (Allan Miliam), of San Antonio, Texas, and Donna Herrada Fuentes, of North Platte; 11 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and other family.
Juanita was preceded in death by her husbands, Odas Benson and Pete Herrada; daughter, Verna Benson; sisters, Lucille Buschman and Lorene Sears; brother, Duane Grove; her parents, Lauren and Deane Grove; and stepchildren, Rolando Herrada, Simon Herrada and Carmen Summers.
Cremation was chosen. Memorial service will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 14, 2018, at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore with Pastor Erin Dunlavy officiating. Inurnment will follow in Fort McPherson National Cemetery. The memorial book may be signed at odeanchapel.com or from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Hershey Senior Center or PAWS-itive Partners.