Ruth Elinor Jardine Bender, Child of God, was born April 23, 1917, the middle child of Dr. and Mrs. George Andrew Jardine, in New Virginia, IA. She attended grammar and high schools in New Virginia where she played the cello in the orchestra and was a member of the girls’ high school basketball team. She graduated from Iowa State College (now University) with a degree in Institutional Management in the College of Home Economics. She worked as a director of tea rooms after her marriage to Charles Richard Bender on December 23, 1940. He preceded her in death in 1964.
After her husband completed his PhD degree they moved to Boston, MA where their son Stephen Richard was born. The later moved to Teaneck, NJ where her two daughters, Andrea Bender Arquitt and Karen Bender Cooper, were born.
Mrs. Bender spent an adventurous nine months with three small children in Rodeo, NM while Dr. Bender was assigned to Australia, after which the family moved to Atlanta, GA. Mrs. Bender lived in Atlanta until 2007 when she moved to Vernon Woods Retirement Center in LaGrange, GA.
Mrs. Bender was a 62-year member of Peachtree Presbyterian Church in Atlanta where she served as Sunday School Superintendent, Bible teacher in Presbyterian Women, and Circle Chairman several times. Mrs. Bender was one of the first two women deacons elected to serve at Peachtree, was a member of the Martha Wilson Bible Class and was honored with a Life Membership in Presbyterian Women.
She was an active participant in Senior University in Atlanta where she served a term as President. She was also a bridge player who enjoyed the game until November of this year. Mrs. Bender was surrounded by many friends where she lived.
After the death of her husband, Mrs. Bender worked for The Coca Cola Company in a test kitchen experimenting with potential products and traveling internationally to test products. In addition to business travel, she traveled internationally for pleasure for many years.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, sister and brother, as well as many close friends.
She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Stephen and Donna Bender, and their children Amy, Rick (Mitze), Stephen and Elizabeth Bender; daughter and son-in-law, Andrea and Ed Arquitt, and their children, George (Carrie) Arquitt and Karen (David) Butler; daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Joe Cooper, and their children, Allison (David) Malady and Jeff (Pam) Cooper; eight great grandchildren, Jake Bender, Tyler and Ashley Butler, Katherine and Ansley Arquitt, Maggie Malady, and Nuria and Nicholas Cooper; and nephew, George Kralik.
Funeral services will be at 11:00 A.M. Friday, December 28, 2012 at First Presbyterian Church, LaGrange, GA. Graveside services will be at 3:00 P.M. at Arlington Memorial Park Cemetery in Atlanta, GA.
The family will also host a memorial service at Peachtree Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, GA on Saturday, December 29, 2012.
The family will receive friends at First Presbyterian Church, LaGrange, GA on Friday, December 28, 2012 from 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Salvation Army (Atlanta), First Presbyterian Church of LaGrange, GA, or Presbyterian Women Peachtree Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, GA.
Arrangements are by Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, 1010 Mooty Bridge Road, LaGrange, GA 30240 (706) 884-8636 www.shlagrange.com
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