William Kermit Benson, Age 91, passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 14, 2021 in Visalia, California.
Bill was born in Upland, CA on July 25, 1930 to the late Gilbert and Madge Benson.
On February 13, 1951 he married Ruth Ann Noble in Ontario, CA, and together they raised four children in Porterville, CA.
A veteran of the Korean War, he proudly served in the US Air Force from 1951 to 1953. Bill served in the Free and Accepted Masons, Porterville Lodge #303. His service to the community included chairman of the Porterville Farm Bureau and Vice Mayor of the Porterville City Council, and was also a member of the Porterville Rotary Club. In January of 1971, Bill and Ruth purchased the Hanford and Lemoore travel agencies, renaming them Benson Travel. Eventually, they expanded offices to Reedley, Porterville and Visalia, retiring in 2003 after 32 years. During these years and after, Bill and Ruth travelled all over the world, but their "happy place" was their Kiahuna condo on the island of Kauai.
His hobbies included travel, becoming a pilot and golf. He was a member of the River Island Country Club and Visalia Country Club.
Bill is survived by his wife of 71 years, Ruth Benson along with his daughter Cynthia Louise Benson-Thomas, son William David Benson (Jackie), granddaughters Amy Leann Benson and Ashley Diane Prieto (Fred), step-granddaughter Liz Vitrano (Dominic) and step-grandson Jeremy Baker (Morgan) and twelve very special great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his son Robert Mark Benson and daughter Marilyn Elaine Benson.
Graveside services will be held Friday, October 29th 10:00am, at the Hillcrest Cemetery in Porterville. In lieu of flowers, kindly send remembrances to Shriners Hospitals for Children, PO Box 947765 Atlanta, GA 30394. Arrangements are entrusted to Myers Funeral Services in Porterville.
www.myersfuneral.com
Published by The Porterville Recorder on Oct. 23, 2021.
Bill was born in Upland, CA on July 25, 1930 to the late Gilbert and Madge Benson.
On February 13, 1951 he married Ruth Ann Noble in Ontario, CA, and together they raised four children in Porterville, CA.
A veteran of the Korean War, he proudly served in the US Air Force from 1951 to 1953. Bill served in the Free and Accepted Masons, Porterville Lodge #303. His service to the community included chairman of the Porterville Farm Bureau and Vice Mayor of the Porterville City Council, and was also a member of the Porterville Rotary Club. In January of 1971, Bill and Ruth purchased the Hanford and Lemoore travel agencies, renaming them Benson Travel. Eventually, they expanded offices to Reedley, Porterville and Visalia, retiring in 2003 after 32 years. During these years and after, Bill and Ruth travelled all over the world, but their "happy place" was their Kiahuna condo on the island of Kauai.
His hobbies included travel, becoming a pilot and golf. He was a member of the River Island Country Club and Visalia Country Club.
Bill is survived by his wife of 71 years, Ruth Benson along with his daughter Cynthia Louise Benson-Thomas, son William David Benson (Jackie), granddaughters Amy Leann Benson and Ashley Diane Prieto (Fred), step-granddaughter Liz Vitrano (Dominic) and step-grandson Jeremy Baker (Morgan) and twelve very special great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his son Robert Mark Benson and daughter Marilyn Elaine Benson.
Graveside services will be held Friday, October 29th 10:00am, at the Hillcrest Cemetery in Porterville. In lieu of flowers, kindly send remembrances to Shriners Hospitals for Children, PO Box 947765 Atlanta, GA 30394. Arrangements are entrusted to Myers Funeral Services in Porterville.
www.myersfuneral.com
Published by The Porterville Recorder on Oct. 23, 2021.
William Kermit Benson, Age 91, passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 14, 2021 in Visalia, California.
Bill was born in Upland, CA on July 25, 1930 to the late Gilbert and Madge Benson.
On February 13, 1951 he married Ruth Ann Noble in Ontario, CA, and together they raised four children in Porterville, CA.
A veteran of the Korean War, he proudly served in the US Air Force from 1951 to 1953. Bill served in the Free and Accepted Masons, Porterville Lodge #303. His service to the community included chairman of the Porterville Farm Bureau and Vice Mayor of the Porterville City Council, and was also a member of the Porterville Rotary Club. In January of 1971, Bill and Ruth purchased the Hanford and Lemoore travel agencies, renaming them Benson Travel. Eventually, they expanded offices to Reedley, Porterville and Visalia, retiring in 2003 after 32 years. During these years and after, Bill and Ruth travelled all over the world, but their "happy place" was their Kiahuna condo on the island of Kauai.
His hobbies included travel, becoming a pilot and golf. He was a member of the River Island Country Club and Visalia Country Club.
Bill is survived by his wife of 71 years, Ruth Benson along with his daughter Cynthia Louise Benson-Thomas, son William David Benson (Jackie), granddaughters Amy Leann Benson and Ashley Diane Prieto (Fred), step-granddaughter Liz Vitrano (Dominic) and step-grandson Jeremy Baker (Morgan) and twelve very special great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his son Robert Mark Benson and daughter Marilyn Elaine Benson.
Graveside services will be held Friday, October 29th 10:00am, at the Hillcrest Cemetery in Porterville. In lieu of flowers, kindly send remembrances to Shriners Hospitals for Children, PO Box 947765 Atlanta, GA 30394. Arrangements are entrusted to Myers Funeral Services in Porterville.
www.myersfuneral.com
Published by The Porterville Recorder on Oct. 23, 2021.
Bill was born in Upland, CA on July 25, 1930 to the late Gilbert and Madge Benson.
On February 13, 1951 he married Ruth Ann Noble in Ontario, CA, and together they raised four children in Porterville, CA.
A veteran of the Korean War, he proudly served in the US Air Force from 1951 to 1953. Bill served in the Free and Accepted Masons, Porterville Lodge #303. His service to the community included chairman of the Porterville Farm Bureau and Vice Mayor of the Porterville City Council, and was also a member of the Porterville Rotary Club. In January of 1971, Bill and Ruth purchased the Hanford and Lemoore travel agencies, renaming them Benson Travel. Eventually, they expanded offices to Reedley, Porterville and Visalia, retiring in 2003 after 32 years. During these years and after, Bill and Ruth travelled all over the world, but their "happy place" was their Kiahuna condo on the island of Kauai.
His hobbies included travel, becoming a pilot and golf. He was a member of the River Island Country Club and Visalia Country Club.
Bill is survived by his wife of 71 years, Ruth Benson along with his daughter Cynthia Louise Benson-Thomas, son William David Benson (Jackie), granddaughters Amy Leann Benson and Ashley Diane Prieto (Fred), step-granddaughter Liz Vitrano (Dominic) and step-grandson Jeremy Baker (Morgan) and twelve very special great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his son Robert Mark Benson and daughter Marilyn Elaine Benson.
Graveside services will be held Friday, October 29th 10:00am, at the Hillcrest Cemetery in Porterville. In lieu of flowers, kindly send remembrances to Shriners Hospitals for Children, PO Box 947765 Atlanta, GA 30394. Arrangements are entrusted to Myers Funeral Services in Porterville.
www.myersfuneral.com
Published by The Porterville Recorder on Oct. 23, 2021.
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