Larry James Benner's Obituary
Larry J. Benner passed away on September 23, 2024, at his home in Fremont, California with his family at his side. He was 81 years old and had been struggling with the repercussions of cancer for many years. He fought his disease with strength and dignity and was a model for how to face such a trial.
Larry was born and raised in the Pennsylvania Dutch country of the Perkiomen Valley in Red Hill near Allentown, PA. He was the son of John and Elva Benner and grew up in Pennsburg, PA. He was baptized at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Pennsburg and attended Upper Perkiomen High School. He was a star athlete earning letters in football and baseball and graduated in 1961. After high school, he attended college at the University of Kansas. After college, he worked for Los Angeles Airways for a while and then entered Officer’s Cadet School in Fort Benning, GA. He served in Vietnam from 1966-67 as a Lieutenant in the United States Army in Quang Ngai, DaNang near the North Vietnam border. He served as a senior battalion advisor to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) and received a Distinguished Service Award while serving under fire. After returning from Vietnam, he worked for SFO Helicopter Airlines in the Bay Area, where he met his future wife, Marlene Kiepke. After they were married in 1973, they settled in Fremont, California, and had two children, Jennifer and Brandon. Later on, he worked for 30 years as a commercial estimator for Superior Tile Company in Santa Clara, CA.
Larry is survived by his wife, Marlene and her brother Wayne, his children Jennifer and Brandon, his grandchildren, Javier and Isaac, and his sister Martha. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Elva Benner, and his sister Marilyn Benner. Larry was a very sweet man who was meticulous in all that he did, and it was always done the right way. All who knew him also knew his kind heart, always respectful, never complaining. He contributed greatly to his family and his community. He will be greatly missed. A private graveside service is to be held at the Chapel of the Chimes in Hayward, California on October 24, 2024. Larry had a beautiful smile.
Donations can be made to operationprevent22.com
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