Karla Jo Wadlington

Karla Jo (Hendrickson) Wadlington, 68 years old, passed away Friday, March 10, 2023, at Elkhart, Kansas. She was born September 11, 1954, in Lamar, Colorado, to Naomi (Betsy) and Karl Hendrickson. 
 
 She moved to Elkhart in 1958, where she attended school for her entire life. She was proud to be a part of the Class of 1972. She was the mother of three girls: Brenda Rae, Dena Jo, and Alyssa Karel. 

She started selling Avon around 1979 and was known around town as the “Avon lady.” Karla bowled on many leagues in Elkhart and continued bowling after the bowling alley closed in Elkhart; she even traveled to continue playing. She enjoyed reading books, and you could always catch her in the middle of one. 

In 1985, she married Jerry Wayne Wadlington, bringing three bonus kids - Sidney, Brenda Carol, and Barbara Jean, and a grandson Joshua. With Jerry in her life, she was exposed to new interests, including boating, ebay shopping, and building a restaurant. 

She was preceded in death by her Daddy, Karl Hendrickson, her loving husband, Jerry Wayne Wadlington, a granddaughter, Justine Marie Wadlington, and a grandson, Colton Collins.

She is survived by her mother, Betsy Cozby; Brenda and husband, Chad Herron; Dena Collins, Alyssa Wadlington; Barbie and husband Blas Mendoza, all of Elkhart, KS.; a trusted employee of several years - Gary Medlock and Wife Beverly, a cousin Jerry Smith of Wichita, and grandchildren Josh Wadlington, Marcelino Zambrano, Kyleene Leyba, Mikey Morales, Kalyn Flores, Calvin Wadlington, Cheyanne Mendoza, Kristina Ybarra, Maritza Mendoza, Tater Simpson, Tomas Mendoza, Cameron Collins, Haley Wadlington, Shayna Wadlington, Ziva Herron, Bentley Wadlington-Hurn, and Blake Herron and 18 great-grandchildren. 

A memorial has been established for the First Christian Church, or Elkhart Recreation of Elkhart, in the care of Robson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 606, Elkhart, Kansas 67950.

A family service will be held on Thursday, March 16, at 11 a.m. at the First Christian Church in Elkhart. A burial will be held at a later date at the Elkhart Cemetery, Elkhart, Kansas.

Robson Funeral Home - 120 Grant Street - Elkhart, KS 67950 - (620) 697-4884