Wilbur Louis Benjamin

Wilbur L. BENJAMIN

BENJAMIN, Wilbur L. 94, of Spring City, Pennsylvania died Thursday, September 12, 2013 at the Veteran's Administration Medical Center in Spring City, PA. He was preceded in death by his wife of 72 years, Ilona T. (Svarczkopf) who died in February 2013. Born in Indianapolis, IN he was the son of the late Wilbur R. Benjamin and Bessie Hitch Benjamin. He graduated from Morton High School in Richmond, Indiana and married Ilona, also of Richmond, in 1941. He was a WWII veteran, who served in the European, African, and Middle Eastern Theater and received two bronze stars for his campaigns in Normandy, France and Cardiff, Wales. For most of his life, he was employed by the Blommel and Wilson Sign Companies in Dayton, Ohio, as a sheet metal worker designing and building signs. He also had a passion for art, taking watercolor and commercial art classes from the Dayton Art Institute. He left a legacy of drawings, portraits, paintings, and cartoons for each of his children. He was also intensely interested in airplanes, woodworking, and buildings. He built their home in Dayton, Ohio by himself where they raised their family and resided for 55 years. Extremely productive all of his life, he completed two other homes, and in his retirement designed and built by hand, an ultralight airplane, furniture, wooden toys and novelties, and countless home improvements for all of his children's homes. A self-taught pianist he enjoyed relaxing at the piano. Loved and admired by his children and grandchildren, he will be greatly missed. He is survived by his children Linda (Robert) Bauer of Dallas, TX, Leonard Benjamin of Coatesville, PA, Gwen (Mort) Martin of West Chester, PA, Dana (Bill) Lynch of West Chester, PA, Pete (Karen) Benjamin of Cary, NC, grandchildren, Kim (Frank), Brendan (Debbie), Kristin, Kerry, Brad (Robyn), Andrew, Madalyn, Hannah, and great-grandchildren, Austin, Frankie, Cassie, Colin, and Ryann. Also survived by siblings Virginia Roller of Richmond, IN, Jules (Lillian) Benjamin of LaPorte, IN, Joy (Jim) Gay of Centerville, IN, sister-in-law Katherine Svarczkopf of Indianapolis, IN, brother-in-law Joseph Fuller of Richmond,IN, brother-in-law George (Louise) Svarczkopf of Lakewood, NJ, brother-in-law Ambrose (Margaret) Svarczkopf of Richmond, IN, brother-in-law Anthony Svarczkopf of Indianapolis, IN and sister-in-law Irene (Ken) Lohmeier of South Lake Tahoe, CA, and many nieces & nephews. Relatives and friends are invited to his Funeral Mass, 10 am Tuesday, September 17, 2013 at St. Agnes Church 233 W. Gay St. West Chester, PA 19380. Visitation will be held 5 - 7 pm Monday, September 16, 2013 and also from 8:30-9:30 am Tuesday, September 17, 2013 at the DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home, Inc. 410 North Church Street West Chester, PA 610-696-1181. Interment St. Agnes Cemetery in West Chester, PA. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Neighborhood Hospice, 795 E. Marshall Street, Suite 204, West Chester, PA 19380. Published in Dayton Daily News on September 17, 2013

Wilbur married Ilona Teresa Svarczkopf, daughter of Frank Svarczkopf and Magdaline Houseman, on 26 Jan 1941 in Richmond, Wayne Co., IN.¹ (Ilona Teresa Svarczkopf was born on 03 Oct 1922 in Richmond, Wayne Co., IN,¹ died on 06 Feb 2013 in West Chester, Chester Co., PA and was buried about 09 Feb 2013 in St. Agnes Cemetery, Chester Co., PA.)