Frank Benesh
June 08, 2012

Frank J. Benesh III died Saturday, June 2, 2012.

He was born in 1938 at St. Luke's Hospital to the parents Gwyn and Frank J. Benesh Sr. Frank spent his formative school years in Mount Vernon, and after graduating from Mount Vernon High School, he attended Drake University for two years. He was drafted into the Army and spent over a year stationed in Italy.

After returning home he returned to his job at Collins Radio where he met Lynda Jo Bordwell. She offered him a Lifesaver and they got married in 1964. The rest of that story is history. As Collins Radio became Rockwell Collins and then finally Rockwell, Frank spend 38 year of his life, most of it spent as a purchasing agent, buying "anything from planes to toilet paper," he would always say. After retirement, he spent most of his working hours at Ace Hardware where he always greeted customers with a kind smile and a helpful heart.

Frank was Past Master of Mount Vernon Masonic Lodge 112. He was active in the Presbyterian Church choir, singing most Sundays. He played golf regularly with his buddies, Joe McClain, Walt Krambek, Ron Frantz and Mike Bigley. He loved theater, participating any chance he was given. His proudest accomplishment lately was his ability to start a cancer support group in Mount Vernon in Fellowship Hall of the Presbyterian Church the second Tuesday of every month, which will continue even after his death because the legacy is far greater than the life he left behind.

Frank is survived by his 100-year-old mother, Gwyn; his wife, "Lynda with a Y"; his son, Mark Benesh and his favorite wife, Sarah, and their children McKenna, Thomas, Emily and his great-grand chickens; his daughter, Kim, her husband, Mark, and their children, Emma, Martin, Lydia and Charlie. He was preceded in death by his father, Frank J. "Zeke" Benesh.

Frank's Celebration of Life service will be 7 p.m. Saturday, June 9, at the Mount Vernon Middle School auditorium. There will be a private family graveside and Masonic service.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been set up at Mount Vernon Bank and Trust.