Herald & Review (Decatur, IL) - Monday, September 4, 2000
Robert D. Bender, 77, local businessman, of Decatur passed away from this earth on September 1, 2000, in his home after a long illness.
Graveside services in North Fork Cemetery, Decatur, with military rites conducted by the Macon County Honor Guard.
Mr. Bender was born Oct. 10, 1922, in Decatur, the son of Chester and Lydia Ruth Burrus Bender. He married Virginia A. "Jennie" James on March 2, 1941, in St. Charles, Mo. Mr. Bender served in the Navy SeaBees during World War II and participated in nine invasions. In 1947, he and his brother Everett formed Bender Brothers Construction Co. In 1949, he became the sole owner and general contractor specializing in building grain elevators, storage tanks and machinery. In 1965, as Bemco Mfg. Co., he began to design, build and install grain elevator machinery. His company built many grain elevators and storage tanks that you see throughout Illinois, Indiana and Iowa. They have sold grain elevator machinery all over the world and in the United States. He remained owner and president of Bender Brothers and Bemco Mfg. Co. for 53 years with his son, Robert Dale Bender II, as vice president. Mr. Bender was an avid golfer and loved to spend time with his flowers, yard and garden, especially at their home in Chassahowitzka, Fla., where they resided during the winter months for the past 40 years.
Surviving are his wife, Virginia "Jennie" A. Bender; three children, Janice R. Christie and husband Harold "Dutch," Robert Dale Bender II and wife Lana and Jacqueline A. Bender, all of Decatur; seven grandchildren, Harold Robert Christie and wife Teresa of Walnut Grove, Mo.; Christiana M. Bender, Robert Dale Bender III and wife Stephanie, and Ryan T. Bender, all of Decatur; Valerie A. Ducy, Jennie R. Ducy and Michael F. Ducy II, all of St. Louis, Mo.; five great-grandchildren, Rachel, Samantha, Amanda, Gordan and Corbyn; brothers, Melvin Bender and Bill Bender and wife Phyllis, sister, Rosemary Foster and husband Chuck, all of Missouri; many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Chester and Lydia, brothers, Everett and Jerry, sisters, Helen, Juainta and Judith Ann.
Herald & Review (Decatur, IL) - Monday, September 4, 2000
Robert D. Bender, 77, local businessman, of Decatur passed away from this earth on September 1, 2000, in his home after a long illness.
Graveside services in North Fork Cemetery, Decatur, with military rites conducted by the Macon County Honor Guard.
Mr. Bender was born Oct. 10, 1922, in Decatur, the son of Chester and Lydia Ruth Burrus Bender. He married Virginia A. "Jennie" James on March 2, 1941, in St. Charles, Mo. Mr. Bender served in the Navy SeaBees during World War II and participated in nine invasions. In 1947, he and his brother Everett formed Bender Brothers Construction Co. In 1949, he became the sole owner and general contractor specializing in building grain elevators, storage tanks and machinery. In 1965, as Bemco Mfg. Co., he began to design, build and install grain elevator machinery. His company built many grain elevators and storage tanks that you see throughout Illinois, Indiana and Iowa. They have sold grain elevator machinery all over the world and in the United States. He remained owner and president of Bender Brothers and Bemco Mfg. Co. for 53 years with his son, Robert Dale Bender II, as vice president. Mr. Bender was an avid golfer and loved to spend time with his flowers, yard and garden, especially at their home in Chassahowitzka, Fla., where they resided during the winter months for the past 40 years.
Surviving are his wife, Virginia "Jennie" A. Bender; three children, Janice R. Christie and husband Harold "Dutch," Robert Dale Bender II and wife Lana and Jacqueline A. Bender, all of Decatur; seven grandchildren, Harold Robert Christie and wife Teresa of Walnut Grove, Mo.; Christiana M. Bender, Robert Dale Bender III and wife Stephanie, and Ryan T. Bender, all of Decatur; Valerie A. Ducy, Jennie R. Ducy and Michael F. Ducy II, all of St. Louis, Mo.; five great-grandchildren, Rachel, Samantha, Amanda, Gordan and Corbyn; brothers, Melvin Bender and Bill Bender and wife Phyllis, sister, Rosemary Foster and husband Chuck, all of Missouri; many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Chester and Lydia, brothers, Everett and Jerry, sisters, Helen, Juainta and Judith Ann.
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