Obituary of Farrell O. Bender

Farrell O. Bender, 86 formerly of Traverse City, Michigan died, May 2, 2011 in Sugar Hill, Georgia. The son of Frank and Laverne (Miners) Bender was born June 5, 1924 in Scottdale, Michigan. He married Carol Ann Eggleston on December 29, 1945 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in St. Joseph, Michigan. Farrell was a member of the "Greatest Generation" a term coined to describe a generation who grew up during the Great Depression and went on to fight in WWII. He served in the Navy aboard the Destroyer USS Wilkes in both the Atlantic and Pacific and received an Honorable Discharge in 1945. He attended St Joseph Public High School. Farrell was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church of Traverse City, Michigan. He was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans. He was a past Exalted Ruler of Elks 541 in St. Joseph, Michigan and a past State Chaplain for the Michigan State Elks Association. Farrell enjoyed hunting and fishing with his lifetime friend, Dale Schuhknecht. Farrell is survived by his children, James F. Bender of Ft Lauderdale, FL, Robert A. Bender of Austin, TX and Jane V. (Derrick) Eads of Sugar Hill, GA, 4 grandchildren, Ryan Bender, Kristina Bowers, Timothy Bender, Addison Bender and Ryann Elizabeth Eads and 2 great grandchildren, Charlie and Richard. He is preceded in death by his wife, Carol, son Thomas D. Bender, granddaughter Erinn Bender-Orr, parents, Frank and Laverne Bender and brother, Franklin Bender. Graveside Services will be held Saturday, June 4, 2011 at 10am for family and friends where his ashes will be interned with his beloved wife Carol in the Bender Plot in Spring Run Cemetery located in Scottdale, Michigan.