Saturday, November 14, 2026
Barbara May (Bensing) Terstappen died Wednesday, August 7, 2024, in Naples FL. She was 94.
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on January 15, 1930, Barbara was the daughter of Earle Bensing and Mildred May Hurst. She grew up in Yeadon, Pennsylvania and graduated from Yeadon High School where she was voted “most popular” and “best dancer.” She was the high-scoring star of the field hockey team, playing left wing. Her high-school yearbook entry describes her as “sincere,” “attractive,” and “radiant.” In 1949, she graduated from Centenary Junior College in Hackettstown, New Jersey, with an associate in arts degree. After graduating from college, Barbara worked as a secretary for the Christian Board of Education.
In 1949, she married Horace H. Terstappen of Yeadon, Pennsylvania, and the couple had two daughters, Karen Terstappen Morr and Kathy Terstappen Hulme. When her father died unexpectedly in 1951, Barbara and Horace moved in with her mother in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania for a year to help out. Later the Terstappen’s settled in Newtown Square in suburban Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
When her daughters were in high school, Barbara worked at a local nursery school at the Newtown Square Presbyterian Church, where she flourished as a teacher and was beloved by her students. When her colleague at the nursery school, Pat Miller, left to become the principal of an elementary school in Clifton Heights, Barbara went with her to work as an assistant in the library and front office.
Barbara was an involved and supportive mother, attending every school function, volunteering for the PTA, and encouraging her daughters to follow in her footsteps onto the hockey field. She served as a Girl Scout Troup Leader. The family spent many happy summers with extended family in Ocean City, New Jersey, and traveled often.
In 1977, the Terstappen’s invested in property in the then-undeveloped Marco Island, Florida. They built a home and eventually moved full-time to Marco Island, watching the area flourish into a popular vacation destination. Barbara devoted her time to bridge, crossword puzzles, boating, traveling, and entertaining her friends and family. When not in Marco Island, her favorite place to visit was the Sandy Lane resort in Barbados.
In 2011, Barbara moved to the Aston Gardens Retirement Community in Naples, Florida. At Aston Gardens, she made many friends and enjoyed a full social calendar of dining, entertaining, and traveling. In her later years, she thrived as an energetic, outgoing, playful grandmother and great-grandmother. She possessed the remarkable gift of engaging children by getting on their level and making them feel respected, heard, and loved,
Barbara’s husband Horace H. Terstappen preceded her in death on January 17, 2007.
Barbara Terstappen is survived by her brother Bud Bensing of Asheville, North Carolina; her daughter, Kathy Terstappen Hulme of Laguna Niguel, California; her granddaughters, Stephanie Morr Kazama of Atlanta, Georgia, Heather Morr Klemann of Greenwich, Connecticut, Lauren Hulme Lowell of Laguna Niguel, California, Kirsten Hulme Thompson of Sandpoint, Idaho, Madlen Hulme Brauner of Mission Viejo, California; her sons-in-law Thomas G. Morr of Colleyville, Texas, and Milton George Hulme, Illinois, of Laguan Niguel, California; her grandsons-in-law, Andrew M. Kazama, Gilbert H. Klemann, Jeffrey V. Lowell, Christopher V. Thompson, and Noah A. Brauner; and 11 great-grandchildren: James M. Kazama, Grace M. Kazama, Eleanor B. Klemann, Beatrice H. Klemann, Gilbert L. Klemann, III, Logan J. Lowell, Theodore B. Lowell, Griffin T. Thompson, Bennett M. Thompson, Archer Adam Brauner, and Barbara May Brauner.
Coastal Breeze News August 29, 2024
