Robert Richard Benson, age 91, of B & R Road in Brockway, Pa., died on Monday, June 13, 2016, at Highland View Health Care in Brockway.
Born on July 28, 1924, in St. Marys, Pa., he was the son of the late Robert Walford and Leah Christine Lucas Benson.
In 1949, he married Helen Elizabeth Fasenmyer of DuBois and she preceded him in death in 1986. He then married Genevieve Hein Steele Benson in 1998, and she survives.
Bob was a graduate of the DuBois High School. He then attended Penn State at its DuBois campus and graduated from the main campus in 1949, with a B.A. in Psychology.
Bob was a U.S. Army Air Corps WWII Veteran where he achieved the rank of PFC. He served from December 4, 1942, to October 25, 1945, as an aircraft and engine mechanic in the GO 5 HQ First Fighter Group 45. He served in Rome, Italy, Northern France, Po Valley, Rhineland and the Balkans. During his service, he earned the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal with two bronze stars and one silver star, the overseas service bar and the good conduct medal.
Before he retired, he served as a Personnel Manager for Brockway Glass at Plant #2; C.A. Reed Paper Company; Mansfield State College (now Mansfield University), and was president of Benson and Sons convenience stores in Williamsport, Pa.
At different times, Bob was a member of the Presbyterian Church in Jersey Shore and Brockway.
He was also a past Borough Council member in DuBoistown, Pa.
Throughout his life, he loved singing in numerous barbershop quartets and in the Williamsport and DuBois area barbershop choruses. He also enjoyed researching his family’s genealogy, puttering in the garden, and fly fishing with flies he tied himself.
In addition to his wife he is also survived by a daughter Linda S. (Susan Krauss) Benson of Alameda, Calif.; two sons J. Scott (Brenda) Benson of Williamsport, Pa.; Richard L. (Renee) Benson of Colorado Springs, C.O.; a brother William “Buzz” Benson of Zanesville, Ohio and a stepdaughter Louise M. Steele of Alliance, Ohio. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Friends will be received on Friday, June 17, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church in Brockway.
A funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m., also at the Church with Rev. Clair Lundberg officiating.
Following the funeral service, full military honors will be accorded at the church by Parson-Marnati Post #95 of the American Legion.
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