George Beneze
Godfrey |
George F. Beneze of Green Valley, Arizona entered the Kingdom of Heaven on October 11, 2012 at the age 83 in Tucson, Arizona. George was born on May 10th, 1929 to Leo E. Beneze and Alice L. Beneze in Alton, Illinois. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Eileen Beneze; three sisters: June Walker, Etta Schlobohm, and Mora Lou Kenyon; his three sons: Geoff (Sylvia), Nathan (Judy), and Ethan (Candiss); 6 grandchildren: Joanna, Alan, Erica, Stephanie, Hannah, and Lucian; 2 great grandchildren: Maddyn and Paralee; 4 sisters-in-law and husbands and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, 5 brothers and 1 sister.
George graduated from Alton High School in 1947 and joined the Army the next day. In 1956, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in math and physics from Shurtleff College. For 40 years, George worked as a computer scientist. He spent the majority of his life in Sierra Vista, Arizona, where he worked at Fort Huachuca for the Army Security Agency and Department of Defense where he received many commendations and awards for outstanding work. He served on the Sierra City Council for 1 year. Six years were spent in Germany where he helped develop programs for the U.S. Army.
George played football in high school and college and participated in target shooting from his teenage years and was a life member of the NRA. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Sierra Vista for over 50 years and more recently, a member of the Green Valley Baptist Church. He was a member of the Franklin Masonic Lodge #25 in Alton, Illinois, and an early member of the Huachuca Whitetail Deer Club in Sierra Vista. George was a family man with a sense of adventure. He traveled the world hunting and fishing. He loved reading and listening to opera music. Above all, he loved his family dearly and will be sorely missed.
“Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free. I took God’s hand when I heard Him call.”
Funeral services will take place at 11:00 am at Valhalla Cemetery in Godfrey, Illinois, on October 19th, 2012. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to First Baptist Church of Sierra Vista, 1447 S. 7th Street, Sierra Vista, AZ 85635, or Green Valley Baptist Church, 1111 La Canada Drive, Green Valley, AZ 85614 or Calvary Baptist Church, 1422 Washington Avenue, Alton, Illinois. A memorial service in Sierra Vista is planned for a later date.
Elias, Kallal & Schaaf Funeral Home in Godfrey is in charge of arrangements.
Elias, Kallal & Schaaf Funeral Home
