Delpha Irene Jennings, daughter of Ralph & Mary (Wisehart) Smith, was born in Selden, Kansas on October 7, 1927. Her family moved to Kirwin shortly after her birth and then to Phillipsburg, where she spent the remainder of her life.
She graduated from Phillipsburg High School and planned to go to Teacher's college in Emporia so she could work with young children, but things changed once she met Delvin Jennings. The two were married on October 4, 1945 in Kansas City. They made a home and raised their children on a farm in Phillips County.
When first daughter, Pat, was old enough to play softball, Delpha decided she wanted to help, so she volunteered to be a coach. She thoroughly enjoyed the sport and working with all the girls. She continued coaching until second daughter, Sherri, was old enough to play. When she ran out of daughters, she decided to coach a "little longer", which turned into a total of 25 years. When her softball career was over she took up volleyball. She and daughter, Sherri, played city league volleyball until Delpha reached 80 years old.
Delpha was an avid dancer and would "hit the floor" with anyone who wanted to dance. She also loved quilting, especially with her sister, Mable, and they spent countless hours creating beautifully designed creations. They also spent a lot of time together at the retirement center playing Bingo with the residents. Delpha was a long-time member of the V.F.W. Women's Auxiliary, and she baked hundreds of cookies and rolled hundreds of bandages for the V.A. Hospital in Wichita.
She was also very particular about church, "First Baptist", and insisted that all of her kids went to church every Sunday even when traveling – she would always find a church to attend. Delpha had a heart of gold and was always there to help anyone who needed it.
When she wasn't playing sports or raising kids she worked on the family farm, where there was "never a shortage of things to do." She loved her family dearly, especially daughter, Sherri, who was her main caregiver in her later years when illness was taking over her life. They went through a lot together with the passing of Delpha's sons, J.D. and Bill, Sherri's brothers. And then in 2015, she lost Sherri, which took a great toll on her both physically and mentally.
Delpha will be missed greatly by all who knew and loved her, but she's in a better place now with all those loved ones who've gone before: her parents, Ralph & Mary; husband, Delvin; sons, J.D. & Bill; daughter, Sherri; brothers, George, Martin, Irvin, Archie and Gyle; and sisters, Ethel, Vera and Mable.
She is survived by her daughter, Patricia Wisinger, of Republican City, NE; son, Daniel Jennings (Marilyn) of McPherson, KS; sister, Vanetta Woodard (Robert) of Mound City, KS; brother, Ronald Smith of Warsaw, MO; eight grandchildren: Marcia, Dale, Luke Josh, Joshua, Zachary, Alisha, and Brandon; and seventeen great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, Aug. 8 at 10:30 a.m. in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, with Pastor James Peterson officiating.  Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery.

Visitation will be from noon to 9:00 p.m. Tuesday & 9:00 to 9:00 Wed. at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.