John Harold Benefield

John was born on May 8, 1919 to James and Della Noblett Benefield in Pittsburg, TX. Within the first year his family and grandparents moved to Chillicothe, TX where they lived until he was 18 years old. During those 18 years his grandparents, James and Iola Pharr Noblett were very influential in John’s life.

At 18 the entire family moved to Tyler, TX where he worked in the family grocery store. It wasn’t long until John saw, what he said “was the most beautiful girl in the world and he was going to marry her”. Her name was Imogene Smith who he called Gene. The economy was very poor so they decided that he would join the Army. He completed all of his training and by then World War II had begun. He was given a leave of absence before shipping out to Germany. He and Gene decided to marry before he left.

John was sent to Germany with the 9th army, 102 infantry division, where he was in the Battle of the Bulge. When the war ended, his company was in charge of getting the Jews that Hitler had imprisoned and tortured back to their families. Later in John’s life he enjoyed showing his collection of World War II newspapers, scrapbook and his military book that was written by an army correspondent that followed every move that his division made. He was a very loyal patriot and loved that he had the opportunity to serve his country.

John was preceded in death by his wife, Gene of 64 years. He was also preceded in death by his parents James and Della Benefield and his sister Helen Winona Benefield Keeling.

He is survived by 2 sons, Stanley Harold and John David Benefield. Also survived by a brother, Tommy Benefield, and a sister Frankie Benefield Cox, 4 grandchildren, 10 Great grandchildren. One special great grandchild named Kristen Nicole Benefield-Goad who just graduated and will be starting college this fall.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests any memorials be made to The First Baptist Church of Blooming Grove, TX, 208 East Kerr St. Blooming Grove, TX 76626, 1-903-695-2593