Thomas Charles Benham

Thomas Charles Benham, 79, of San Antonio died at his home on October 1, 2024. He was known to some as Tom or Tommy, to others as K.T. or Krazy Tom, and to some area high school baseball players as “Show Time”.

Tom was born to Charles Benham and Iva Lee Thomas Benham on May 18, 1945 at Kelly A.F.B. in San Antonio, TX. He grew up in Tull, Ark., Benton, Ark., and Tyler Tx. and attended high school in Tyler and later attended what was then Eastfield Junior College in Mesquite, TX.

In 1977 Tom and Carroll Simmons were married in Richardson,Tx. They lived in Austin, Del Rio and then moved permanently to San Antonio in the early 1980’s.

Tom is survived by Carroll, his wife of 47 years who he called “the love of his life”, his daughter Rhonda and granddaughter Ashley, his son Jeff and wife Michelle and grandson Dylan and wife Jennifer, granddaughter Sarah and husband Brandon, and four great-grandsons Layton, Kaden, Lincoln and Wallace. Tom was preceded in death by his parents, his uncles, aunts and his cousin.

In July 1962 at the age of 17, Tom enlisted in the U.S.A.F. where he served until Aug. 1964. He was trained as an aircraft mechanic which translated later to working as an auto mechanic, then as a quality control inspector, and finally as a blueprint reader/bid proposal writer for a local commercial drywall company. Though he only served for two years at the beginning of the Vietnam War the experience stayed with him the rest of his life giving him a great respect for all those in military service.

Being outdoors was what Tom really enjoyed, from fishing, to hunting, to camping, to prepping and working in his annual vegetable garden, where he said he went to “talk to God”, outdoors is where loved to be. Beyond his love of wife, family, friends and pets, Tom had a deep life-long attachment to the game of baseball. He said that as a child the game offered him focus, structure and a feeling of personal success despite a sometimes turbulent home life, as well as an appreciation and understanding of the joy that being a part of a team could bring. He played the game through high school, and after his military service, for a very brief time he was with the Houston Colt ‘45’s, the team that would later be the Astros. He later played men’s softball in Austin and in Del Rio where he began co-coaching and umpiring, both of which he continued in San Antonio until he primarily umpired high school games. He truly wanted the boys and young men on these teams to enjoy the game and to have fun playing as he had. Tom earned the nickname “Show Time” from some players because he often started the game by saying, “Ladies and Gents, boys and girls, welcome to the greatest show on earth—It’s Show Time!”

Tom lived his life with gusto and with the grace of God he ended it with a peaceful death. May he rest in peace.

His family would like to thank the medical staff and all other staff of N.E. Baptist Hospital and Three Oaks Hospice for the care and kindness they showed Tom in his last week of life. A memorial service will take place on October 10, 2024 at 10:00 am at Sunset Funeral Home follow by burial at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery at 11:15.

The family asks that any donations be made to St. Jude’s Hospital, the American Cancer Society or a charity of your choice.