James Russell Benbow, 92, of Fort Madison, IA, passed away on Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at the Fort Madison Community Hospital. He was born on January 12, 1920 in Clear Lake, IA to Alfred L. & Arvilla C. Abendroth Benbow. He married Marjorie L. Reaney on September 2, 1942 in Columbus Junction, IA. He was a member of First United Methodist Church, Fort Madison Rotary Club and the Elks Lodge. He graduated from Fort Madison High School in 1937 and later Coe College in Cedar Rapids, IA in 1941. He was commissioned a 2nd Lt. Infantry from ROTC at Coe and was a veteran of WWII and the Korean War, serving in the Southwest Pacific Theatre as an officer with the 6th Infantry Division and with the 40th Infantry Division in Korea. He was awarded numerous medals, including the Combat Infantryman Badge for both wars, two bronze stars, the second with an oak leaf cluster and two Presidential Unit Citation Awards. He was honorably discharged as Major, Infantry. He was the office manager of the Benbow Coal Company until he joined the staff of Lee County Savings Bank in 1965, retiring as Senior Vice President & Trust Officer in 1988 and continuing on the board of directors of the bank until his death. He was also a Past President of the Fort Madison Chamber of Commerce, the Fort Madison Rotary Club and served as the treasurer of the Fort Madison School board for many years. He also served as the president and business manager of the S. & J.C. Atlee Corporation for more than 50 years. He was a devoted sports fan in his college years, he loved playing tennis and golf became his passion the rest of his life.
Jim is survived by: 2-sons: James E. (Delores) Benbow of Urbandale, IA & Paul R. Benbow of Bangkok, Thailand; 2-daughters: Carolyn L. (Jay) Eliason of Norman, OK & Elizabeth A. (Curt) McClellan of Fort Madison, IA; 13-grandchildren; 17-great grandchildren & 1-sister: Marvilla M. (Bill) Grismer of Clive, IA. He was preceded in death by: his parents, wife & 2-sisters: Louise E. Gray & Dorothea M. Zimmerman.