Obituary of Leland A. Benson

Leland A. Benson, 85, of 39 Roland Road, died at 9:37 p.m. Wednesday (January 25, 2012) in WCA Hospital. He was born in Sheffield, PA on August 28, 1926, a son of the late Axel and Libby Faimen Benson. Known as 'Poppy' by family and friends, he was employed in earlier years by the Blackstone Corp. and later as a carpenter by Collum Acoustical. A lifetime member of the Carpenters Union Local #66, Poppy was also a life member and former fire chief of the Ellery Center Volunteer Fire Department, as well as life member of the War Vets Recreation. For 40 years he and his wife, Janice enjoyed camping at the Top-A-Rise Campground. A lover of music, Poppy was a guitarist with the Senior Stompers and the Grey Fox Band and enjoyed playing at the Resource Center and local nursing homes. Everyone who knew Poppy loved him for his pleasant personality and gentle demeanor. Surviving are two daughters, Brenda and her husband Terry Schultz of Lakewood and Sherrie and her husband Jack Brookmire of Jamestown; seven grandchildren: James Schultz of Akron, OH, Thomas Schultz of Columbus, OH, and Staci, Richard and his wife Amanda, Kristina, Tori and Lissa Benson, all of Prosper, TX; a great-grandson, Jack Leland Benson of Prosper; two brothers, David and his wife Helen Benson of Temecula, CA and Vern Benson of Linden, MI; and a sister, Thelma Dowd of Dewittville, NY. In addition to his parents, Poppy was preceded in death by his wife, Janice Hallberg Benson whom he married August 29, 1947 and who died after 63 years of marriage on November 26, 2010, a son, Jeffrey Lee Benson and a sister, Doris Herkert. Friends will be received from 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon Saturday, one hour prior to the service, in the Lind Funeral Home. The funeral will be held at 12:00 noon Saturday in the funeral home. The Rev. Donald E. Ray will officiate. Memorials may be made to the Ellery Center Volunteer Fire Department or to a charity of choice.