Donald Bench
Donald J. Bench
Donald J Bench, 93, passed away Monday, November 2, 2015, in Sun City Center, Fla.
Don was born in Toledo, Ohio, to Fred and Clara (Rothacker) Bench. The family moved to Brockway, Pa., where Don grew up. He graduated from Brockway High School. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. After the war, he studied at the University of Toledo, graduating with a degree in Engineering.
He married Ellenor Pioch in 1950 in Toledo, where their children Marcia and Bill were born. In 1958 the family moved to Holland. They joined Zion Lutheran Church, where Don was part of the planning committee for the educational wing, and also served for some time as financial secretary and council member.
Don’s business career included Junior Engineer at Willys-Overland Motors in Toledo, Ohio; Chief Engineer and President at Conrad Inc., of Holland, Mich.; founder and CEO of Russells Technical Products of Holland, Mich. He retired from Russells Technical Products in 1990 and continued as their CEO Emeritus.
Don was an avid golfer. He was instrumental in forming the West Michigan Golf Association. During his retirement years, he was active at the Caloosa Golf Club in Sun City Center, and enjoyed planning golf events.
Preceding Don in death was his wife Ellenor; brothers Howard and Robert Bench; and sister Jeanette Hampton.
Survivors include his wife Trudy Coleman Bench of Sun City Center; children Marcia and Richard Pfahl, and Bill and Sue Bench; grandsons Rick and Jennifer Pfahl, Dan and Amy Bench, and Jim and Kimberly Bench; great-grandchildren Max Bench and Maggie Bench, all living in Michigan.
A memorial service was held Nov. 14 at Zion Lutheran Church in Holland.
On Sunday, December 6, a memorial moment will be observed at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Sun City Center, during the 10 a.m. worship service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Parkinson’s Foundation or the Macular Degeneration Foundation.
Jean Simmons
Jean Simmons
Jean Simmons, 81, passed away peacefully from Alzheimer’s on November 10, 2015.
Jean was the daughter of Ellsworth and Carolyn Simmons, longtime leaders in Hillsborough County.
A Memorial Service to celebrate her extraordinary life was held November 15, 2015, at Canton (Ga.) First United Methodist Church.
For further details, visit her page at www.woodstockfuneralhome.com.
Juanita Elizabeth Williford
Juanita Elizabeth Williford, 86, went home to be with our Lord, peacefully surrounded by loving family at Palm Garden on Saturday, November 14, 2015.
Born in Tampa, Fla., she was a lifelong area resident. She was a loving, kind, hardworking woman who loved nothing more than being surrounded by family and friends, especially over a big home-cooked meal. She enjoyed travel, camping, fishing, reading and nature.
Juanita was preceded in death by her parents, Julius C. and Elizabeth Willis Glisson. She is survived by her husband of 71 years, James M. Williford; sons Randall (Ann) Williford, Ralph (Donna) Williford, and Allen (Lynda) Williford; grandchildren Melissa Williford Chandler, Aleece Williford King, Heather Richards Serafin, Marcus Williford, Amy Williford Giesler, Jamey Williford, Amanda Williford Nece, Joshua Williford, and Caitlen Williford Murrell; 12 great-grandchildren; and many cousins.
The family gratefully acknowledges the staff at Palm Garden of Sun City Center and the LifePath Hospice Silver Team for their years of loving care.
Services were held at National Cremation & Burial Society, 308 E. College Ave. in Ruskin, on November 18, 2015.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Juanita’s name to the USF Foundation, Inc., and mailed to USF Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., MDC70, Tampa, FL 33612, Attn: Daniel Minor.
In Loving Memory
Gil Bennett
11/24/33 – 11/15/13
We thought of you today,
but that is nothing new.
We thought of you yesterday and will tomorrow, too.
We think of you in silence and often speak your name.
For what it meant to lose you, only those who love you know.
Remembering you is easy, we do it every day.
It’s the heartache of losing you that will never go away.
We love and miss you.
Ron, Kim, Krisi, Keavin, Sherell and Ryan
