Robert C. Benson, of South Daytona, FL, formerly of Manchester, CT, died of natural causes at age 87 in Port Orange, FL, March 19, 2015. He was the loving husband of the late Evva "Duff" Bridget (Ritson) Benson, formerly of Bloomfield, CT. Bob was born in Hartford, CT, January 28, 1928 to Carl E. Benson I and Edith Lindskog. Bob grew up in West Hartford, CT, graduating from Hall High School in 1947. He served in the U.S. Army from 1948 to 1952 as an electronics / communications instructor, attaining sergeant rank. He was an avid amateur radio operator with call letters W1HAC, who communicated with fellow HAMS in over 100 countries. He was employed by IBM as a systems/installation engineer from 1953 until his retirement in 1990. Bob was baptized at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Hartford, CT. He was a communicant of Trinity Lutheran Church in New Smyrna Beach, FL, from 1990 until his death, and was previously a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Manchester, CT. He was an active Royal Arch Mason, through Friendship/ Tuscan Lodge in Manchester, and Pythagoras Chapter, East Hartford. He was Master of Friendship/Tuscan Lodge for multiple terms and was deeply respected by his Worshipful Brothers. He was also a member of Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He was a former member of Scandia Lodge of Vasa in America. Bob was a licensed builder who built his own summer home at Lake Hayward in Colchester, CT, and generously helped friends and family improve their homes. He was also an enthusiastic sailor. As an accomplished musician, he played the piano, the accordion, and the ukulele; he had a marvelous singing voice and loved to sing with his children. He created a veritable fleet of beautifully detailed, highly functioning handmade balsa wood model airplanes, which his children now cherish. He leaves four children, Ann Benson Frost and husband Gary Frost, Port Orange, FL, Linnea Benson McGurk and husband Peter McGurk, Randolph, MA, Eric Robert Benson and wife Virginia Benson, St. Mary's, GA, and Carl E. Benson II of Wolcott, CT. He also leaves grandchildren, Meryl Glassman, Ariel Glassman, Michael McGurk, Daniel McGurk, and Robert Benson II, Kristi Lynn, Kaitlyn, Samantha, and Jocelyn Jacovino, one great-grandson, John (Jack) Robert Farland. He is also survived by two sisters, Constance Benson Bentley of Windsor Locks, CT, and Virginia Benson Wilkinson of Bradenton, FL. He is remembered by in-laws Sally Yuska of Newington, CT, and Jim and Joanne Ritson of Bloomfield, CT, and by dozens of nieces, nephews, and cousins. Memorial services will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church, 485 Turnbull Bay Rd., New Smyrna Beach, FL, on Saturday, March 28 at 1PM, followed by a reception with light refreshments, and at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 60 Church St, Manchester, CT on Saturday, April 11, 12 PM, followed by a luncheon reception. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bob's memory to Shriner's Hospitals for Children, Office of Development, 2900 Rocky Point Dr., Tampa, FL 33607, or at http://www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org
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