Della Amanda Pifer Allen Honse, 97, of Pharr, Texas, and formerly of Bluffton died Dec. 28, 2016, at her residence in Pharr, Texas.
Della was born Aug. 15, 1919, to the late Ami G. and Verna (Pifer) Pifer of Bluffton, Ohio. Mrs. Honse graduated from Bluffton High School, and The University of Findlay.
Della served in the Marine Corps from 1944 to 1946. Boot training was at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, then she was stationed at El Toro Marine Air Station in Irvine, California.
Della was employed in the office of Benevolent and Protective Order of Elk's #75 in Findlay. After WW II she lived four years in Newark, New Jersey, and then returned to Ohio and worked a year at Triplett Corp. After that she worked eight years for Radio Corporation of America in Findlay.
Then she moved to Toledo, where she worked 15 years in the finance office of The University of Toledo, retiring in 1979.
Amanda married the late, Jerome D. Allen in April 1946. In July 15, 1961, she married Ray D. Honse and he died Nov. 20, 1973.
She was a member of Pharr United Methodist Church and the American Legion Auxiliary. She is preceded in death by her husband, Ray D. Honse; a daughter, Barbara Joyce Lee; a sister, Frances L. Riley; and a cousin, Helen Norbec. Della is survived by a daughter, Beverly L. Chew (Joe) of Hilo, Hawaii; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; two nieces; and nephews, John P. Riley (Vicky).
Graveside service will take place at 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6, 2017, at Thompson Cemetery in Bluffton, Ohio. Arrangements are under the direction of Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services, Bluffton.
