Louise Belle Hendrix

Louise Hendrix, 91, of Groesbeck was born again to Eternal Life following a brief illness at 11:50 pm, Saturday, March 14, 2015, at Windsor Healthcare in Groesbeck. Funeral services will be at Groesbeck Funeral Home, Tuesday, March 17, with visitation from 1:00-2:00. Services will be a 2:00 pm with Pastor Tom Konz of the Faith Lutheran Church in Stephenville officiating. Interment will follow at Faulkenberry Cemetery in Groesbeck. Pallbearers will be W. E. Hendrix, Charles Hendrix, Joe Towers, Mark Schwartz, Cody Turner, and Shane Turner. Louise Belle Schwartz was born on August 23, 1923 in the family home in Washington County, Brenham, Texas, the youngest of three children born to Charles H. and Selma (Lampe) Schwartz. She was baptized into the Christian faith on October 14, 1923 at Sandy Hill Lutheran Church in Brenham, Texas by pastor George Czerkus and confirmed in the Lutheran faith in May of 1936. Louise spoke only German at home and learned English when she started to school. The family moved to Bammel, North Houston around 1930 where her father, Charlie, farmed and worked cattle. Louise worked at a dairy, milking by hand for a penny a cow to earn money for her senior class ring while in high school. She graduated from Klein High School in 1941 and entered Durham Business School. In the fall of 1941, she began a 32 year career with Sheffield Steel (later Armco) in the payroll department. One day in 1945, a tall handsome man named Horace Hendrix, came to the payroll window to pick up his check and the rest is history. Horace & Louise were married on January 19, 1946 in Houston at Immanuel Lutheran Church. In the summer of 1947, they built a new home in south Houston near Almeda. In August 1947, they welcomed a daughter, Sandra Ann, followed by their son, William Glenn in October 1949. They became charter members of Pilgrim Lutheran where Louise taught Sunday school. In the early 1950’s they moved to north Houston near Fairbanks to be near her parents and so the kids could go to school in the country at Louise’s old alma mater in the Klein community. They grew wonderful gardens & she canned enough to fill three freezers and multiple shelves, giving the rest away to anyone that past their house. Vacations were a rarity, but Sunday’s were spent at her mom’s house, visiting with brothers & family. As soon as Louise retired in 1973, she and Horace moved to the Thelma community outside of Groesbeck. They moved onto Horace’s family property where they raised cattle and had a big garden. For the first time in Louise’s life, she took some time for herself. Although they had always loved to dance and play dominoes, she learned to play cards and crochet. Many hours were spent at a card table with her girlfriends, Trudy, Katie, Suzie, Ruby, Lillian & Mabel. In 1992, at the age of 60 she flew in an airplane for the first time on a 3-week trip to Europe. In 1989 Louise and Horace became charter members of Faith Lutheran Church in Mexia. They previously attended church in Mart, as there had not been a Lutheran Church in the area. Louise taught her children to be independent, self-reliant and hard-working and taught them how to make a living, but most importantly how to save. She was a wonderful mother; hard working; a fantastic cook and seamstress; and superb housekeeper. Louse’s legacy has been passed on to the love of her life, her granddaughter, McKenzie Hendrix and soon to her precious great-grandson Braddox Hendrix. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 50 years, Horace Hendrix; and her brothers, W.H. “Bill” Schwartz and Charlie Schwartz. She is survived by daughter Sandra Beil and Joe Towers of Thelma; son Glenn Hendrix of Bandera; granddaughter McKenzie Lynn Hendrix of Waco and great grandson Braddox Hendrix of Waco; nieces and nephews; and her best friend, Ruby Hudgins of Thelma. The family wishes to thank the staff and all the caregivers at Windsor Healthcare for the excellent care, time and love shown to our mother. She was truly happy there. Our graditude and appreciation also goes to Southern Hospice of Waco for their loving care, especially to Jacque Harris. Memorials may be made to Faith Lutheran Church, Mexia, Texas.