Vernon R. Benson

Vernon R. Benson died peacefully in his Jacksonville, FL home on July 12th surrounded by family and friends. He was born in Sault Ste. Marie, MI on 4/4/43 and graduated from the local high school in 1961. As a young man he worked on ore carriers in the Great Lakes shipping fleet. He later joined the Coast Guard and served on the USS Southwind, an icebreaker tasked with keeping the shipping lanes clear near Antarctica. He lived in Miami, Florida for a time after his service and met his wife of forty years there while working on his newly purchased Corvette Stingray. A shy man by nature, he would never have spoken to her had she not taken the liberty of introducing herself and taking a seat in his car. After they married they had one daughter and then moved to the Jacksonville area. He worked as a civilian electronics technician and supervisor for Cecil Field Naval Air Station and Mayport Naval Base. After thirty-four years with the Navy he retired in the fall of 2008. He was a man of 19th century sensibilities; he maintained an abiding and active interest in steam engines, wooden boats, trains, and woodworking. He appreciated a clean workshop and a finely stacked woodpile.

Vern is preceded in death by his father, Roy F. Benson, and a great many uncles and aunts. He leaves behind his wife Barbara (Salls) Benson; his daughter Jennifer Lynn Benson; his son-in-law Joseph C. Totherow, his granddaughter Gillian Benson-Totherow; his mother Elizabeth E. (Wheeler) Benson; his brothers Wayne, Lawrence, and Mark Benson; his sister Mary Ann (Benson) Delay; and many nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.

A Memorial Service will be held at 4pm on Saturday, July 17th in Hardage-Giddens Mandarin Chapel with Pastor Steven Mouzon as Officiant.

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Northeast Florida Community Hospice, 4266 Sunbeam Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32257.

Graveside service at Pine Grove Cemetery to be announced at a later date.