Evelyn Lorraine (Hodgson) Amend, 97, of Salina, passed away peacefully Friday, Jan. 3, 2020, at Eaglecrest Retirement Community. She was born Oct. 7, 1922, in Parker, Kan., the first child of Owen E. Hodgson and Ella (Crosswhite) Hodgson. Evelyn married Donald B. Amend on April 7, 1946, at First Christian Church in Salina.
Evelyn’s family moved to Salina in 1925. She graduated as valedictorian of her class from Salina High School, Washington building, in 1940. She attended the University of Kansas where she lived in Miller and Watkins scholarship halls and served as secretary of the freshman class. She graduated from KU in 1944 with a degree in bacteriology. She was a registered laboratory and radiology technician. She worked in the lab at Asbury Hospital, and then for doctors Hashinger and Wheeler in Kansas City, while Don was in dental school.
After a year in New Orleans for her husband’s dental internship, she returned to Salina in 1952 where she was an active member of the community from then on. She had a passion for Salina and volunteering. She served as a founding member of several organizations, served on numerous boards and served at least one term as president of almost every organization in which she participated. Community organizations include Chapter DL of P.E.O., Asbury Hospital Auxiliary (Salina Regional Health Center), Salina Community Theater Guild, Charities League, Downtown Lioness, 20th Century Forum, Daughters of the American Revolution, PTA, American Association of University Women, KU Alumni Association, American Red Cross Board, United Way Board, YWCA Board, Salina Public Library Board, American Cancer Society Board, League of Women Voters, Salina Election Board, Kansas Wesleyan University Board of Trustees, Hotline and Meals on Wheels.
Evelyn was very active in the dental community at the local, state and national level. She was president of the local dental wives group in Salina and the surrounding area. She later served as president of Kansas State Dental Auxiliary and in 1981 she was installed as president of the auxiliary to the American Dental Association, with over 18,000 members at that time. She established and was a founding member of “Circle of the Golden Key” and chairman of Silver Lining Educational Loan Fund for dental students. She and Don were charter members of UMKC Flarsheim Society. They were also among the first donors and sustaining members of Greater Salina Community Foundation and Kansas Masonic Foundation “Partnership for Life” for cancer research.
Evelyn was honored in 1976 as one of 13 “Patriots of Today” for being a founding member of, writing the original by-laws for, and serving as two-term president of Asbury Hospital Auxiliary. In 1982, she was recipient of the YWCA Outstanding Service Award. She was honored for her work with the YWCA again in 1992 as a United Way Hometown Hero. She was honored in 1995 by Asbury-Salina Regional Medical Center Auxiliary for 40 years of service to the auxiliary.
Evelyn was a woman of faith and served in many capacities for over 60 years at First Christian Church, and then for almost 30 years at First United Methodist Church. She served as both Christian Women’s Fellowship and United Methodist Women’s president as well as serving on various other church committees at the local, state and national level at both churches. She and Don were active members of Peacemakers Sunday School class.
Through the years Evelyn and Don enjoyed traveling. For over 35 years they had an active interest in Best Western Motels. During that time they took numerous extensive trips with other world-wide owners of Best Western properties. They have visited all 50 states and over 100 countries on six continents, making them eligible for the Traveler’s Century Club. Evelyn collected more than 250 dolls from all the countries they visited.
Evelyn was an excellent bridge player and enjoyed playing throughout her life.
Evelyn was preceded in death by Don, her husband of 62 years and Cortney Weeks, her grandson.
Evelyn is survived by her three children, Janet Fisher and husband Rick, of Salina, Nancy Sanchez, of Salina, and Douglas Amend and wife Belinda, of Goodland; eight grandchildren, Amanda (Weeks) Schmitt and husband Brad, of Wamego, Jason Sanchez, of Lawrence, Nathan Sanchez, of Manhattan, Adrienne Sanchez, of Kansas City, and Cavan Sanchez, of Lawrence, Amanda (Shafer) Harrison and husband Cory, of Moundridge, and Derrick Amend and Sara Amend, of Wichita; five great-grandchildren, Paityn and Dylan Brooks, Rex and Althea Harrison and Violet Sanchez; and two stepgreat-grandchildren, Rhyan and Jace Schmitt; two sisters, Eloise Lynch, of Prairie Village, and Madeleine Anderson, of Chicago; and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10, with family present from 5-7 p.m., all at Ryan Mortuary. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, at First United Methodist Church, Salina, with burial to follow in Roselawn Memorial Park.
Memorials may be made to the Greater Salina Community Foundation or Salina Education Foundation, in care of Ryan Mortuary.
Condolences: www.ryanmortuary.com.