Mildred Torrey's Obituary
Mildred Elaine Torrey, age 93, of Centerville, passed away peacefully on Monday, February 2, 2026, at Davis County Hospital in Bloomfield.
Mildred was born on October 16, 1932, in rural Appanoose County, Iowa, the daughter of Lester and Maude (Stiles) King. She graduated from Seymour High School with the Class of 1951, where she was a standout basketball player-a passion that stayed with her long after her playing days. Whether in a gym or in her living room, Mildred loved the game and followed it faithfully.
She was united in marriage to Richard Henkle in 1951. To this union, two children were born, Rick and Vickey. Later in 1974, she was united in marriage to Bill Torrey, and he passed away in September of 1985.
Mildred spent many years working at the Seymour Herald, where she was known for her reliability and friendly presence. She also worked for a time at McGraw-Edison, always taking pride in her work.
Outside of work, Mildred found joy in tending her garden, proudly ensuring there was always "something to eat." She also kept busy with yardwork-there was always a project to be done and she was happy to do it. Above all, Mildred cherished time spent with her grandchildren. She was a faithful taxi to her grandkids and loved saving all of the newspaper clippings of all their accomplishments.
Mildred truly enjoyed company. She welcomed visits, especially when she knew someone was coming, and found comfort and happiness in conversation and shared moments. Her warmth, humor, and steady presence will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.
Those left to cherish Mildred's memory are her daughter, Vickey (Bob) Lawson; her daughter-in-law, Deb Henkle; her grandchildren, Jared (Jamie) Henkle, Tara (Mike) Campbell, and Tonya Henkle; her great grandchildren, Chase Campbell, Sadie Campbell and Emmett Henkle; as well as several extended family members.
Mildred was preceded in death by her husband, Bill Torrey; her parents, Lester and Maude King; her son, Rick Henkle; and her siblings, Barbara Cline, Howard King, Lester King, and Delbert King.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00AM, Friday, February 6, 2026 at Thomas Funeral Home in Centerville with Pastor Kay Singley officiating. Burial will follow the service at Southlawn Cemetery in Seymour. Visitation will take place Friday, February 6, 2026 at Thomas Funeral Home with the family greeting friends from 10:00AM-11:00AM. Memorials have been established to the Exline Ramblers 4-H Club, and may be mailed to Thomas Funeral Home, ATTN: Torrey Family, 501 North 18th Street, Centerville, Iowa 52544. Condolences may be shared online at https://www.thomasfh.com or https://www.facebook.com/thomasfuneralhome .
To view the livestream of Mildred's services, please click the link below or visit: https://my.gather.app/remember/mildred-torrey
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