David C. Benham Sr., 70, of Wyantenuck Street, died November 9, 2015 at his home in Housatonic following a four and a half-year battle with cancer.
Born September 1, 1945 in Pittsfield, Mass., he was the son of the late Charles Joseph and Mary Alice McGraw Benham. He was a 1963 graduate of the former Searles High School. While in school he was a member of the award winning Great Barrington Boys precision drill team.
A veteran of the Vietnam War David enlisted in the U.S. Navy on September 30, 1963. He was stationed on the USS Valley Forge and spent 22 months in Vietnam. He received the National Defense Service Medal, Viet-Nam Service Medal (Two Bronze Stars) and the Republic of Viet-Nam Campaign Medal, with Device and was honorably discharged on September 26, 1969.
Upon his return home David went to work for Barrington Electric Co. doing major appliance repairs. In 1971 he moved to Western Mass Electric Co. In 1980 he became the company’s materials management supervisor and later their regional manager until his retirement in 2004.
As an active member of the community David was a lieutenant who was a 20-year member of the Great Barrington Fire Department and a certified a CPR instructor. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus as well as the Adam Budz VFW Post #8183 in Housatonic.
He married the former, Barbara Ann Olender,on September 20, 1969. The couple had three children. David took an active role in his children’s lives having coached Little League, Babe Ruth and JV high school baseball teams and attended classes to learn the ins and outs of being a certified umpire.
He was an avid bowler and a member of Wyantenuck Country Club for over 20 years.
David is survived by his wife of 46 years, Barbara Ann Benham and their children David Benham, Jr. and his wife Donna of Housatonic, Kimberly Benham Wood and her husband Brent of Ashburn, Va., and Shawn Benham and his wife Susan of Sterling, Va. He also leaves his sister Beverly Kradel of Ashley Falls, Mass., his brother Michael Benham and his wife Pat of San Jose, Calif., and seven grandchildren, Matthew and Lexi Benham, Emily and Brady Wood, twins Harriet and Evelyn Benham and their big sister Anna as well as five nieces and nephews.
The family of David C. Benham,Sr. will receive friends on Thursday, November 12th from 4 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at FINNERTY & STEVENS FUNERAL HOME in Great Barrington.
In accordance with his wishes a memorial service will be held in the spring.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Berkshire Humane Society or HospiceCare in the Berkshires through FINNERTY & STEVENS FUNERAL HOME, 426 Main St., Great Barrington, MA, 01230. To send remembrances to his family or sign the guestbook go to www.finnertyandstevens.com.
