Calvin A. Bender, 93, of Lodi died Jan. 27 in a local convalescent hospital after a lengthy illness. He was born May 21, 1901 in Menno, S.D. His family moved to Lodi when he was 1 and he attended Emerson Elementary before graduating from Lodi Union High School in 1920. In 1921, Mr. Bender moved to Richmond, where he married Elizabeth Walsh on Aug. 20, 1922. In 1925, they returned to the local area to settle at the family ranch in Acampo where he became a self-employed vineyardist on 80 acres of land that was a portion of the land originally purchased by his father, Charles, in 1903. Mr. Bender was preceded in death by his first wife, Elizabeth, in 1946. He married Erna Emilie Ebertz on June 25, 1948 in Lodi. He retired in 1977 after more than 50 years as a grape vineyardist. He was a member of Ebenezer Congregational Church, I.O.O.F. Lodge No. 259 of Lodi where he was a 50 year member and past district deputy grand master, Lodi Lodge No. 256 F&AM, Tokay Shrine Club, Scottish Rite Bodies of Stockton, Ben Ali Temple of Sacramento, Lodi Grape Grower Association, life member of the Lodi Memorial Hospital Foundation, member of the Sons In Retirement and Lodi Travel Club. Mr. Bender was precede in death by his wife, Erna Bender in 1983; two brothers, Dr. Theodore Bender and Eugene Bender, and two sisters, Alma Koenig and Edna Bender. He iss survived by four daughters, Frieda Lansdowne of Oakdale, Genie Collins of Twain Harte, Sylvia Bender of Sacramento and Juliet Ann Bender of Maryland; a sister, Ella Williams of Lodi; three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. The funeral is 10 a.m. Tuesday at Gierhart-Wells & Donahue Funeral Home with the I.O.O.F. Lodi No. 259 officiating. Committal will follow at Lodi Memorial Cemetery. Visitation is 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and 8 a.m. until service time Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children, P.O. Box 214477, Sacramento 95821.
Lodi News Sentinel - January 30, 1995