Heaven never gained a sweeter mother than Blenda Sue Forester Fitch, 76, of Waverly, passed from this life to the next on Wednesday, August 27, 2025 at Adena Regional Medical Center in Chillicothe. She was born on May 14, 1949 in Raysal, West Virginia to the late Lawrence “Jim” Edward Forester and Bessie L Sweeney McKenzie.
Bennie is survived by her lifelong companion, Everett “Jim” Grubaugh whom she loved very much. Aside from being a homemaker for most of her life Bennie also worked as a cook at 23 Diner, Cal Kan and a certified nurse’s aide at Pleasant Hill Nursing Home and Heinzerling Community where she worked with her sister Brenda. She had a huge kind heart and spent most of her life selflessly caring for those she loved, often putting others needs before her own. She was the happiest when she was helping someone or caring for someone other than herself.
She would often take donations, go to yard sales, marketplace and numerous other places to get clothes, food or whatever the need was then drive sometimes long distances to make sure people’s needs were met. Aside from having a big heart Bennie loved her animals.
Her dog Abby never left her side unless she had to. She had other faithful companions, Jigger, Punky, Kelly and her cockatoos, Chipper and Billy. She loved to crochet. She made several afghans for her children, grandchildren, friends and neighbors. One of her greatest joys in life was seeing her grandkids and giving them rolls of money, she would load the grandkids down every visit they never left empty handed. In her younger days she loved to decorate for the grandkids at Christmas with displays of villages and trains and animated Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Numerous times she would spoil the grandkids with trips to the zoo, Sea World and Kings Island. She did the best she could with what she had. Many times she and Jim would take short drives just to get out of the house.
Bennie helped raise many children aside from her own. She would take children from close family and friends and raise them and treat them as her own. She fed, clothed and made sure they got to school and had all their needs met. These kids still call her grandma to this day. They still remember and appreciate all she had done for them.
Bennie gave her heart and life to Jesus two days before leaving this world.
Left behind are her children, Cynthia (Jeff) Conley, Norman Hoagland, Sherri Mollet and Lawrence “Larry” Hoagland; siblings, Beverly, Bonnie, Mary and John; 17 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren and the children and grandchildren she took in and raised as her own. In addition to her parents and first husband she was preceded in death by a son, Brian Hoagland; great-grandson, Grant Nichols; and siblings, Jimmy, Ethel, Judy and Brenda.
Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 3, 2025 at Botkin Hornback Funeral Home in Waverly with Pastor Chad Watson officiating. Burial will follow at Waldren Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home.
www.botkinhornbackfuneralhomes.com
