Obituary of Robert L. Benjamin

Robert L. "Bob" Benjamin, 91, of Montour Falls, New York, passed away on Friday, May 26, 2023 at Schuyler Hospital. He was born on October 5, 1931 in Bradford, Pennsylvania, to the late Marion Lewis Benjamin and Vera Mae (Stephens) Benjamin. Bob grew up in Limestone, New York where he graduated from Limestone High School in 1949. He married N. June Cope (Benjamin) on October 11, 1954 in Odessa, NY. His last place of employment was Precision Filters Inc. in Ithaca, NY, where he worked for 24 years. He retired in 2000. Bob attended the Montour Falls United Methodist Church. He was very active in the church doing the church bulletin until two weeks before his passing. He was a member of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and volunteered as an archival researcher at the National Air and Space Museum at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., and a member of the National Soaring Museum in Elmira for several years. He served with the Civil Air Patrol and was a skilled worker emeritus. He served in the U. S. Navy from 1949-1952, then joined the U. S. Air Force, retiring in 1971. Bob was predeceased by his wife of 68 years, June on April 17, 2023; brothers, James, William and Howard; and grandson, Ryan Gregory. He is survived by his six children: Jeffrey (Kelly) Benjamin, Manchester, CT; Ken (Carletta) Benjamin, Colchester, CT; Kimberley (Tony) Scott, Montour Falls, NY; Jenny (John) Benjamin-Rider, Richmond, ME; David (Jill) Benjamin, Elmira, NY; and Tim (Michelle) Benjamin, Montour Falls, NY; eight grandchildren: Louie, Erin, Cassie, Jackie, Amanda, Carlyle, Daniel and Matthew; Step-grandchildren: John Jr., Megan, Jessica, Wallace, Wanda and Luci; great-grandchildren: Kelan, Zoe and Hudson; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Relatives and friends are invited to his Celebration of Life service on Saturday, June 3, 2023 at 2:00 pm at the Montour Falls United Methodist Church, 124 Owego Street, Montour Falls, NY. Private burial will be in Highland Cemetery in Odessa, NY. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Montour Falls United Methodist Church or the Schuyler County Humane Society, 124 Marina Drive, Montour Falls, NY 14865.