Tina Chenoweth passed from this world on the evening of Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012, to be with her Lord. Her family was by her side until the end.

She was born in White Deer, Texas, on March 8, 1931. Her parents were Hosea Banzet and Oma Banzet. She attended grade school/middle school in White Deer, Texas, until the family moved to Oklahoma, in a small farm community, south of Altamont, to be with their ailing grandfather.

For a period of time, her father transported her daily by horse and wagon to the Labette County Community High School in Altamont. The daily commute to school on rough roads became too much to endure, so she boarded in Altamont for three years while attending high school there. She moved to Parsons during her senior year, where she lived with her sister Doris, and graduated from Parsons High School.

She met Charles Chenoweth (her husband) when she was in her senior year of high school and he had just returned from two years of active duty in the Navy during World War II. They eloped and were married in Bentonville, Ark., on Feb. 1, 1950. Tina and Charles endured 18 months of separation shortly after getting married when Charles was called to active duty with the Army in Korea.

Tina was a homemaker and the mother of two sons, David and Todd.  She also maintained a part-time home-based business selling magazine subscriptions. Tina and Charles were very active in their church. They became avid antique collectors and dealers early in their marriage. This hobby continued well into their retirement years. They made many friends among their circle of antique enthusiasts.

Tina loved to entertain in her home, tastefully decorated with all antique furnishings. She was known by her family and friends to set an elegant dining table for her gourmet meals. Tina was very artistic and creative by nature and completed many paintings and floral arrangements for her and others.

After Charles passed away in 2006, Tina’s health gradually declined. She was diagnosed with dementia in 2008. Many say she suffered from a broken heart due to the loss of her lifetime soulmate. She was cared for by her youngest son, Todd, until her health further declined in 2010 and Todd took a job with the BNSF in Moorhead, Minn. The decision was made by her sons that she needed to be closer to one of them for proper care. David moved her to Broomfield, Colo., (a suburb of Denver) in April 2010. She resided in a beautiful facility that had a special care unit  for those afflicted with dementia.  She was loved dearly by her caregivers and residents. She seldom missed an ice cream social or musical presentation at the Stratford at Flatirons Living Facility.

She is survived by her eldest son, David Chenoweth and his wife, Elizabeth, of Lafayette, Colo., her younger son, Todd Chenoweth of Moorhead, Minn.; a granddaughter Amanda Chenoweth of Seattle; an older sister, Doris (Rusty) Taylor of Parsons; and a younger brother, Hosea (Sonny) Banzet of Altamont.
She was cremated at her request in Colorado. She will be laid to rest next to her husband, Charles, in Topeka.  
A service for Tina will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2012, at Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel in Topeka.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Alzheimer’s Association.