1923
Frances
2014
Frances Benson
June 9, 1923 — December 24, 2014
Obituary for Frances Benson (Wilhite)
Frances Wilhite Benson, 91, of Cleburne, Texas, passed away Wednesday, December 24, 2014, at Community Hospice of Texas Hospice House in Fort Worth, Texas, of complications from pneumonia.
Born June 9, 1923, in Decatur, Texas, she was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Harold W. Benson; son, Joel Kent Benson; daughter, Nan Marie Land; great-grandson, Clint Apple; parents, Joseph and Lula Wilhite; and siblings, Grace Fatheree, Moody Wilhite, Dale Wilhite, Otho Wilhite, Juanita Dunaway, Imogene Wilhite, Opal Pounds, infant sister, Charles Wilhite, Travis Wilhite, Windle Wilhite, and Lois Coursey.
Prior to living in Cleburne and her marriage to Harold, Frances was valedictorian of Decatur High School and a dental assistant for nine years. She was a lifetime member of Beta Sigma Phi.
Frances and Harold met at Sears in Paris, Texas.
After Harold’s 29-year tenure with Sears, Harold and Frances moved from Port Arthur, Texas, and purchased Cleburne Hardware Company (est. 1899) from J.M. Ragsdale in 1961. They were proprietors for 27 years. The Benson family attended many hardware conventions, thus spurring their wanderlust for travel.
An active member of First Baptist Church, Cleburne, Texas, for over fifty years, Frances always placed God first in her life followed by her family and then wove a beautiful network of friends wherever she went. Her witty sense of humor always kept people on their toes.
Survivors include daughter, Joy F. Benson of Dallas, Texas; sons, Harold W. Benson, Jr. and wife, Emma Lu, of Bedford, Texas; Carl H. Benson and wife, Maynon, of Amarillo, Texas; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Funeral services will be held at First Baptist Church, 414 N. Main Street, Cleburne, TX, at 11:00 am on Wednesday, December 31, 2014 with Dr. Danny Crosby officiating.
Pall Bearers are: Adam Benson, Hunter Ross, Connor Ross, Gary Allen, Hal Benson, Charles Lee Wilhite and James Wilhite.
Honorary Pall Bearers are: Dr. Clint Twaddell, David Hyde, Eddie Sewell, Todd Morgan, Kevin Cook, Harlan Deem, Lloyd Bowden and Ed Featherson.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Baptist Church or the charity of your choice.
“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson
Born June 9, 1923, in Decatur, Texas, she was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Harold W. Benson; son, Joel Kent Benson; daughter, Nan Marie Land; great-grandson, Clint Apple; parents, Joseph and Lula Wilhite; and siblings, Grace Fatheree, Moody Wilhite, Dale Wilhite, Otho Wilhite, Juanita Dunaway, Imogene Wilhite, Opal Pounds, infant sister, Charles Wilhite, Travis Wilhite, Windle Wilhite, and Lois Coursey.
Prior to living in Cleburne and her marriage to Harold, Frances was valedictorian of Decatur High School and a dental assistant for nine years. She was a lifetime member of Beta Sigma Phi.
Frances and Harold met at Sears in Paris, Texas.
After Harold’s 29-year tenure with Sears, Harold and Frances moved from Port Arthur, Texas, and purchased Cleburne Hardware Company (est. 1899) from J.M. Ragsdale in 1961. They were proprietors for 27 years. The Benson family attended many hardware conventions, thus spurring their wanderlust for travel.
An active member of First Baptist Church, Cleburne, Texas, for over fifty years, Frances always placed God first in her life followed by her family and then wove a beautiful network of friends wherever she went. Her witty sense of humor always kept people on their toes.
Survivors include daughter, Joy F. Benson of Dallas, Texas; sons, Harold W. Benson, Jr. and wife, Emma Lu, of Bedford, Texas; Carl H. Benson and wife, Maynon, of Amarillo, Texas; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Funeral services will be held at First Baptist Church, 414 N. Main Street, Cleburne, TX, at 11:00 am on Wednesday, December 31, 2014 with Dr. Danny Crosby officiating.
Pall Bearers are: Adam Benson, Hunter Ross, Connor Ross, Gary Allen, Hal Benson, Charles Lee Wilhite and James Wilhite.
Honorary Pall Bearers are: Dr. Clint Twaddell, David Hyde, Eddie Sewell, Todd Morgan, Kevin Cook, Harlan Deem, Lloyd Bowden and Ed Featherson.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Baptist Church or the charity of your choice.
“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson
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