Roy L. Benjamin, 74, died Saturday, January 26, 2013 at his home in Emporia, Kansas, following a courageous battle with cancer.
Roy was born November 23, 1938, at home in Wichita, Kansas, the son of Roy L. and Elva McCune Benjamin. Roy graduated from North High School in Wichita in 1956. He attended Wichita State University for one and a half years as an accounting major. He was a Second Lieutenant in ROTC.
Roy worked for the Sedgwick County Sherriff’s Office in Wichita as a Sheriff’s Deputy, and then became a Vice Detective with the Wichita Police Department. Roy worked for J.S. Dillons/Kroger stores for 37 years, where he retired. He opened the Dillon’s east store in Emporia on July 10, 1974, and the Dillon’s west store in 1980. After retiring, later in life he worked for the Kansas Parks and Wildlife through a grant at Reading Lake, Reading, Kansas.
Roy was a past board member for Flint Hills Technical College, and Chamber of Commerce-Membership Committee for eight years. He was part of the Emporia State University Small Business Center. He started the Sundowner’s Lions Club in Emporia, Twin Rivers Bass Club in 1976, and was a part of the Emporia State University Christian Athletes Association. Roy was a part of the El Dorado Lake Commission when El Dorado Lake was built. He assisted in the Dingle Johnson Act with the state of Kansas for boat taxing. Roy was elected to the State Federation Board as a Conservation Director, where he assisted in building the Milford Hatchery, and enhancing parks and ramps at Federal Reservoirs in Kansas.
Roy had a passion for fishing and was a part of Kansas Professional Bass Anglers, Bass Anglers Sportsman Society, and made Kansas Team Bass for four years. He fished the Governor’s Cup and won first place for three years, Great Plains Association-Superstar Classic for four years, Sportsman Society Nationally for two years, as well as Redman-Regional every year. Roy was also a fishing guide.
Roy married Charlotte Sweeten on June 8, 1958 in Wichita. She survives of the home. Other survivors include: son, Richard “Tex” and wife Mary Benjamin of Emporia; daughters, Sandy and husband David Fernandez, Christina Lieurance, and Julie Tosh all of Emporia; grandchildren, Augustus, Garrett and Treylan Benjamin all of Emporia, Trista and Kyle Smith of Strong City, Kansas, David and Sandy Fernandez of Vanceboro, North Carolina, Amos Fernandez and Ashley Hill of Olathe, Kansas, Krystle and Lance Fessler of Emporia, Kayla and Joe Glenn, Kimberly Tosh, Brenda Tosh of Emporia, Brandi Tosh of Texas, Tanya and Nate Jobe of Emporia, and Phillip and Jenny Lieurance of Emporia; great-grandchildren, Ralissa and Chaz Smith of Strong City, Kansas, Layton Benjamin of Emporia, Colby Fernandez, Maddie and Eli Moore of Vanceboro, North Carolina, Seth Fernandez of Olathe, Kansas, Boston and Breklyn Craig of El Dorado, Kansas, Tanner and Makena Fessler, Shiann Glenn, Jace Tosh, Ashton and Brayden Jobe, Nevaeh and Kyla Lieurance all of Emporia; and a fishing companion, Rick Moore.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Wilma Deuser; fishing companion, Frank Young; and his dog, Stryker.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, February 2, 2013 at Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home in Emporia. Pastor Rob Clausen of the First Baptist Church in Emporia will be officiating. Interment will follow at 3:00 P.M. Saturday, February 2, 2013 at Benton Cemetery in Benton, Kansas.
The family will receive friends Friday, February 1, 2013 from 7:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Emporia Community Foundation or the Emporia Friends of the Zoo and sent in care of Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Roy L. Benjamin, please visit our flower store.
Roy was born November 23, 1938, at home in Wichita, Kansas, the son of Roy L. and Elva McCune Benjamin. Roy graduated from North High School in Wichita in 1956. He attended Wichita State University for one and a half years as an accounting major. He was a Second Lieutenant in ROTC.
Roy worked for the Sedgwick County Sherriff’s Office in Wichita as a Sheriff’s Deputy, and then became a Vice Detective with the Wichita Police Department. Roy worked for J.S. Dillons/Kroger stores for 37 years, where he retired. He opened the Dillon’s east store in Emporia on July 10, 1974, and the Dillon’s west store in 1980. After retiring, later in life he worked for the Kansas Parks and Wildlife through a grant at Reading Lake, Reading, Kansas.
Roy was a past board member for Flint Hills Technical College, and Chamber of Commerce-Membership Committee for eight years. He was part of the Emporia State University Small Business Center. He started the Sundowner’s Lions Club in Emporia, Twin Rivers Bass Club in 1976, and was a part of the Emporia State University Christian Athletes Association. Roy was a part of the El Dorado Lake Commission when El Dorado Lake was built. He assisted in the Dingle Johnson Act with the state of Kansas for boat taxing. Roy was elected to the State Federation Board as a Conservation Director, where he assisted in building the Milford Hatchery, and enhancing parks and ramps at Federal Reservoirs in Kansas.
Roy had a passion for fishing and was a part of Kansas Professional Bass Anglers, Bass Anglers Sportsman Society, and made Kansas Team Bass for four years. He fished the Governor’s Cup and won first place for three years, Great Plains Association-Superstar Classic for four years, Sportsman Society Nationally for two years, as well as Redman-Regional every year. Roy was also a fishing guide.
Roy married Charlotte Sweeten on June 8, 1958 in Wichita. She survives of the home. Other survivors include: son, Richard “Tex” and wife Mary Benjamin of Emporia; daughters, Sandy and husband David Fernandez, Christina Lieurance, and Julie Tosh all of Emporia; grandchildren, Augustus, Garrett and Treylan Benjamin all of Emporia, Trista and Kyle Smith of Strong City, Kansas, David and Sandy Fernandez of Vanceboro, North Carolina, Amos Fernandez and Ashley Hill of Olathe, Kansas, Krystle and Lance Fessler of Emporia, Kayla and Joe Glenn, Kimberly Tosh, Brenda Tosh of Emporia, Brandi Tosh of Texas, Tanya and Nate Jobe of Emporia, and Phillip and Jenny Lieurance of Emporia; great-grandchildren, Ralissa and Chaz Smith of Strong City, Kansas, Layton Benjamin of Emporia, Colby Fernandez, Maddie and Eli Moore of Vanceboro, North Carolina, Seth Fernandez of Olathe, Kansas, Boston and Breklyn Craig of El Dorado, Kansas, Tanner and Makena Fessler, Shiann Glenn, Jace Tosh, Ashton and Brayden Jobe, Nevaeh and Kyla Lieurance all of Emporia; and a fishing companion, Rick Moore.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Wilma Deuser; fishing companion, Frank Young; and his dog, Stryker.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, February 2, 2013 at Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home in Emporia. Pastor Rob Clausen of the First Baptist Church in Emporia will be officiating. Interment will follow at 3:00 P.M. Saturday, February 2, 2013 at Benton Cemetery in Benton, Kansas.
The family will receive friends Friday, February 1, 2013 from 7:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Emporia Community Foundation or the Emporia Friends of the Zoo and sent in care of Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Roy L. Benjamin, please visit our flower store.
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