Wanda Yvonne Bentley, age 88 of Boone passed away April 5, 2023. Born March 4, 1935, in Hendersonville. She was the daughter of the late Bill Burgin and Arthurine Harris Burgin.

Wanda cherished family and she touched many lives because of her childhood living as one of 93 kids raised at the Grandfather Home for Children in Banner Elk along with her brother, Billie, and sister, Virginia. Wanda loved children and it was evident in her 30 plus year career of driving bus number 45 at Hardin Park Elementary, where she lovingly greeted children with a kind word and a smile.

Whether being a licensed practical nurse, a bus driver, an active church member and choir member, or being the number one mom chauffer for all of the sports and music activities her three children were involved in, Wanda had a generous spirit and cherished connection with people.

Wanda was known for calling up a home-bound neighbor for a Sunday afternoon drive with a comment of "Get your riding britches on" or for organizing an outing for the women of the church.

Family reunions would showcase Wanda's wonderful southern cooking skills along with her infinite wisdom of bringing empty Tupperware containers and filling them first before anyone went through the food line. Wanda enjoyed bowling until the age of 84 with her husband in the Senior League in Watauga County.

Her family and friends will forever cherish her memory and carry on her spirit of giving and loving others.

She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Ned Bentley, of Boone; a daughter, Kaye Bentley and Sue, of Asheville; two sons, Joe Bentley and Shelley, of West Jefferson, and Frayne Bentley, and Rose of Auburn, Georgia; two granddaughters, Beatrice and Carley; and one grandson, Kelton.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Billie Burgin; a sister, Virginia Greenwood.

Funeral services will be conducted Monday, April 10, 2023, at 11:00 O'clock at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. Reverend Gordon Noble and Reverend Mitch Marlowe will officiate. Interment will follow in Mount Lawn Memorial Park & Gardens in Boone, NC.

The family will receive friends from 9:30 until 11:00, prior to the service.

Flowers are appreciated or memorials may be made to The Foley Center at Chestnut Ridge - Activities Program.

The family would like to thank the staff at The Foley Center at Chestnut Ridge for their exceptional care of Wanda this past year, and also to the nurses and doctors at Watauga Medical Center.

Online condolences may be sent to the Bentley family at www.hamptonfuneralnc.com

Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service is in charge of the arrangements.