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Jo Ellen Bender Bodkins, 83, a resident of Elkins, passed from this life Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, at Elkins Rehabilitation and Care Center.
Jo Ellen was born Monday, June 7, 1943, in Huttonsville, a daughter of the late Lester Bender and Effie Ida Kenney Bender.
On July 23, 1960, in Monterey, Virginia, she was married to Ronald Joe Bodkins, who survives. They had celebrated 66 years of marriage.
Also left to cherish Jo Ellen's memory are two children, Ronald Allen Bodkins and, wife, Kimberly Jo, of Valley Head and Rhonda Ellen Edmond and companion, Keith Shoemaker, of Elkins; three grandchildren, Derrick Bodkins and companion, Liz Blackburn, Whitney Jade Sutton and Cole Edmond; six great-granddaughters; and one great-grandson.
Preceding Jo Ellen in death besides her parents were three siblings, Jackie Kempter, Charlotte Streets and Linda Sue Hinkle.
Jo Ellen attended the schools of Randolph County.
She had worked for Randolph County Board of Education for 27 years in the cafeteria at George Ward Elementary School from which she retired as cafeteria manager.
She loved cooking and was an avid reader.
She was a Baptist by faith.
Visitation will be held at Randolph Funeral Home on Monday, Nov. 16, 2026, from noon until 1 p.m., the funeral hour.
Rev. Paul Brady will officiate, and interment will follow in Valley Head Cemetery.
The family has requested that memorial contributions be made in Jo Ellen's name to Valley Head Cemetery, 20545 Seneca Trail, Huttonsville, WV 26273.
The Randolph Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements for Jo Ellen Bender Bodkins.
Online condolences to the family can be made at www.therandolphfuneralhome.com.