Obituary of Phyllis Benson

Visitation: Sunday, October 4, 2009 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM Redmon Funeral Home, Inc. 3633 Darrow Road Stow, OH 44224 Service: Tuesday, October 6, 2009 10:00 AM The Chapel 135 Fir Hill Akron, OH 44304   Phyllis June Benson, nee Marion, joined our heavenly Father on October 1st, 2009. Surrounded by her family, she peacefully passed to heaven. Born on Sunday, June 20th, 1927, in Akron, Ohio, to Hilda Jane (Williams) and Julius Columbus (“JC”) Marion, Phyllis was raised as a dedicated servant of the Lord in the McKinley Avenue Church of God. After studying voice and piano extensively, she became a church soloist, choir member, substitute choir director, and ladies’ trio member. In 1946, she met Richard Benson when he returned from duty in the United States Marine Corps in WWII. On November 1st, 1947, Phyllis and Richard married in the McKinley Avenue Church of God; they had two children, John Edward, and Elizabeth Anne. After graduating from Garfield High School in 1945, she worked as a secretary at the Firestone Rubber Company. Phyllis became the church secretary of the McKinley Avenue Church of God in 1960; she served for many years and continued as the church moved to Tallmadge as the First Church of God of Tallmadge. In 1973, Phyllis became a secretary at the Arlington Memorial Baptist Church where she served until her retirement in 1984. During her retirement, she joyfully cared for her grandchildren. She and her husband traveled extensively, as they visited all fifty states and attended the annual Marine Corps reunions. Phyllis served as the editor of the Marine Corps Reunion Association newsletter for 15 years. She also served as a volunteer at the Haven of Rest for several years. Phyllis exuded cheerful, enthusiastic dedication to home, to family, to work, and to church as she treasured each day. Her hobbies, in addition to her extensive involvement with music, included elaborate sewing projects, cooking, baking, hostessing, gardening, the church ladies’ club, traveling, assisting her children and nurturing her grandchildren, and visiting shut-ins and nursing home patients. Her warmth and love continued through her final days. The family wishes to thank the dedicated staffs of Traditions at Bath Road and the Visiting Nurse Service Hospice Care. Phyllis is survived by her dedicated and loving husband of nearly 62 years, Richard; by her son and daughter-in-law, John and Linda Benson; by her daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth and Tim Colligan; by her beloved grandchildren, Josh Benson, Chris Colligan, and Courtney Colligan; and by her great granddaughter, Carly Benson. Wife, mother, grandmother will be loved and remembered as the epitome of love and joy. Friends and relatives may call at the Redmon Funeral Home in Stow, on Sunday, October 4th from 4 to 7 pm. Phyllis’s funeral will take place at the Memorial Chapel of The Chapel in Akron, on Tuesday, October 6th at 10 am. Interment at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Haven of Rest, P.O. Box 547, Akron, 44398. VIEW VIDEO TRIBUTE