Barbara McKnight Benham

Born Barbara Ann McKnight on February 19, 1948 in Neptune, NJ, “Bobbie Ann” grew up on Ocean Road in the Villa Park section of Spring Lake Heights. Barbara’s childhood was idyllic. Her father owned his own local plumbing and heating company and her mother was a nurse. They lived in a garage apartment behind her grandmother’s home, so Barb spent her time running back and forth between the two. She attended church and Sunday school at St. Anderew’s United Methodist Church for most of her youth and maintained a lifelong membership there despite moving several times after college. Barb’s childhood was spent playing outdoors with her sister, Mary Beth, and the neighborhood kids, Girl Scouts, beach going with her family, baseball, hide and seek, bike riding, and discussing music with friends. An excellent student and avid reader, Barb was known for her storytelling abilities and sense of humor throughout her high school years and adulthood. The two highlights of her Senior year at Manasquan High School were winning a 1966 Mustang convertible from a local department store contest (navy blue, white top, and a 289 engine) and attending the Sr. Prom with her friend and future husband, Bill Benham.

After graduating from High School in 1966, Barb attended Madison College (now James Madison University), a women’s college where she majored in English and was also a part of the tennis and field hockey programs. Always a strong leader, Barb was elected president of her senior class and continued to hold various leadership positions for the Madison College Class of ‘70 alumni group. Not only was Barb a strong leader, but a fiercely loyal friend. Her high school and college friendships spanned over fifty years, with annual pilgrimages to Barb’s “Big House” on Ocean Road at the Jersey Shore. After graduation from Madison College, Barb taught English at Manasquan High School for one year before marrying her high school friend and college sweetheart, Bill Benham on August 14, 1971.

Barb and Bill moved to New Orleans, LA after their marriage so Bill could finish getting his law degree at Tulane University. Barb landed a job teaching first grade where she said she was totally unprepared except for all of the babysitting she had done as a kid. She fondly remembers living in married housing, having no money, and making very close friends. After a stop in Washington D.C. and giving birth to their first son, William T. Benham Jr., in Falls Church, VA, they spent two quick years in Houston, TX before landing in Mount Prospect, IL.

Shortly after her move to George Street in the suburbs of Chicago, Barb gave birth to their second son, John, and four years later gave birth to their third and last child, Anne. The neighborhood where Barb lived was made up of neighbors of different ages and backgrounds and lots of action for the kids, with over 45 children in the surrounding “blocks.” Her 18 years in Mount Prospect consisted of a constant stream of kids running in and out of her home, PTA President at Lions Park Elementary and PTA board member at Prospect High School, President of Prospect High School Marching Band Boosters, Girls scouts, Junior Women’s Club, Infant Welfare Society of Chicago, Philanthropic Educational Organization (P.E.O.), teaching Sunday School, and managing and campaigning for local politicians. Her most memorable gifts of leadership were given to her neighborhood, where annually Barb and Bill would organize a Halloween party full of hot dogs, apple cider, donut holes and a costume parade in their driveway. She also helped Bill annually organize the George Street Olympics where kids of all ages would participate in various athletic events (including a long jump pit behind their house), hold an awards ceremony, and celebrate everyone’s achievements with a big block party. As one long-time friend and neighbor put it, “She simply was so involved with our community, that whatever was needed, she would be the first to step up and more importantly ‘show up.’”

A merger with Bill’s company in 1996 moved her family one last time back down to Houston, where they settled on living in The Woodlands. She continued to remain active in her community through P.E.O., volunteering at her children’s schools, enjoying neighborhood Bunco, and being an active member of The Woodlands Methodist Church and The Good News Sunday School Class.

Barb exemplified “Service Above Self” in all that she did and she will be sorely missed by those that she crossed paths with in what she called a “charmed life.”

She is survived by her children, Captain William T. Benham [April], California, MD, John Benham [Jonathan], Houston, TX, and Anne Willson [David], Memphis TN and her sister, Mary Beth McKnight [Elwood Malick], Spring Lake Heights, NJ.

Her five grand-children, Olivia and Ethan Benham, and Margaret, Eleanor, and Gus Willson, will miss their Nanny terribly.

A memorial service will be held at The Woodlands Methodist Church [The Woodlands, TX] in the Robb Chapel on Friday, May 6 at 2 p.m.

Memorials in Barbara’s name may be made to St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church, 907 Fourth Avenue, Spring Lake, NJ 07762.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.forestparkthewoodlands.com for the Benham family.