Goldie J. Bender was born December 24, 1919 in rural Parnell, Iowa the daughter of Joel and Barbara (Swartzendruber) Miller. She received her teaching certificate from Iowa State Teacher's College in Cedar Falls. Goldie was a member of the West Union Mennonite Church where she held positions of Sunday School Teacher, Vacation Bible School Superintendent and Teacher, Library Committee, song leader in primary and junior departments, Mennonite Women Home and special interests for the Iowa Nebraska Conference. She held local and state offices in the Federated Women's Club, was President of the WCTU and served at the state and local levels of WCTU. She served on the board for Concern for Women and served on the Changing Family Conference Planning Committee at the University of Iowa. For many years she was a discussion leader for Bible Study Fellowship. She had prayed for 18 years that a local chapter of BSF would be established in Iowa City. She was a teacher and homemaker and taught school for 2 years in rural schools. She married Delmar Bender in rural Parnell on August 20, 1940. She lived in the Parnell, Oxford and Kalona communities. Goldie died on Tuesday, September 7, 2004 at the Pleasantview Home in Kalona following a long illness at the age of 84 years. Goldie is survived by her husband Delmar of Kalona; a son - John David and wife Cathy of Boulder, Colorado; a daughter - Alice Golden of Iowa City; a daughter - Virginia (Ginny) Rew and husband Ken of Iowa City; and a son and daughter (twins) - Les Bender and wife Kathy of Kasilof, Alaska; Laurie Bender of Chicago, Illinois; 6 grandchildren; 4 great grandchildren; and a brother - Marvin J. Miller of Parnell. She was preceded in death by her parents. Goldie's life "bore witness to her love of God, and through her he spread the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ." (II Corinthians 2:14)
Interment: September 09, 2004 at West Union Mennonite Cemetery