Our sweet Daddy, Donald Ray Benton (D.R.) passed away on Sunday September 18th, 2016 at the age of 78 at Providence Hospital in Waco, TX. His Loving and Devoted wife Sharon Benton, loving son Barry Benton, and loving daughter Tonya Sampson was at his bedside when he passed. Daddy was surrounded for the past 3 weeks by a multitude of loving family members. He was loved by many for his loving heart, funny sense of humor, and kind disposition. To know him was to love him.
Visitation: Wednesday, September 21, 2016 from 6:00PM to 8:00PM at Lake Shore Funeral Home, 5201 Steinbeck Bend in Waco
Celebration of Life Service: Thursday, September 22, 2016 at 1:00PM at Lake Shore Funeral Home
Burial: Waco Memorial Park in Robinson
Donald was born on November 7th, 1937 in Frost, TX to Helen and William Benton. Donald was a great and talented electrician and worked for many many years in multiple states and later retired in Waco, TX. He loved fishing, hunting, and watching old westerns and multitude of sports. Donald was a long time Dallas Cowboy fan. He loved spending time with his family above all things. He loved to tell funny stories to everyone and he will forever be missed as our Family Story Teller. He showed us how to love one another and how to treat others. He was a precious man and always made his whole family feel loved. Donald was preceded in death by his loving parents Helen and William Benton his beloved younger brother, James (Dinger) Benton. They are now all in Heaven together.
Donald will be cherished and remembered with love by his wife of 28 years, Sharon Benton; his sister, Elizabeth (Jo) Eastlund of Orangevale, CA; his two brothers William (Buddy) Benton of Salem, MO and Richard Benton of El Paso, TX; his two brothers-in-law, Rick Sexton of Copperas Cove, TX and Larry Sexton of Athens, TX; his children, Barry Benton and his wife Pam, William (Billy) Benton, Donald (Gene) Benton, Tonya Sampson and her husband Kellen, Jennifer Lietz and her husband Todd, Melissa Ferguson, Audra Sullivan, Sandra Gee and her husband Russell, Tommy Tudor and his wife Cynthia, and Aaron Tudor; his grandchildren, Casey Benton, Kori Benson, Tabitha Benton, Cody Benton, Madison Benton, Kolton Benton, Ryland Lietz, Payton Lietz, Tanner Lietz, Brooke Ferguson, Colby Ferguson, Shelby Ferguson, Rachel Tudor, Jennifer Carrizales, Mark Espinoza, Chandler Gee, Cami Gee, Nick Sullivan, and Jordan Sullivan; his great-grandchildren, Emery Benton, Cayden Benton, Landon Alonzo, Jackson Alonzo, Ty Benson, Isabela Carrizales, Aubrie Carrizales, Graciella Carrizales; along with numerous other loving family members and a host of friends.
He will always be in our hearts, until we see you again in Heaven Daddy! We Love You With All We Got!
Contact Information:
Lake Shore Funeral Home & Cremation Services
Place of Service: Lake Shore Funeral Home Chapel , 5201 Steinbeck Bend; Waco, TX 76708
Print Obituary & Condolences
One of the things I like about men from Texas is that they have such big hearts. Whenever I came to visit my relatives in Texas, I always went back home to California feeling the warmth of the Texas-style hospitality I received. Uncle Donald, you are truly one of the great ones. Your stories and “catch phrases” will live on through your family members for generations to come – here in California as well.
Say hello to Heak, and my grandfather, ” Willie”, and Uncle Dinger for me when you all get together to catch-up.
Love Arne and family
So sorry to hear that Donald has gone. I will always remember him. He was gracious and hilarious and was a good father-in-law. My thoughts and prayers are with all the family.
You have always been the bright and shining light in my life. I will miss you every day for the rest of my life. Save a spot for me in the “Benton Hood”.
Big Sister, Jo
Sharon and Family, I am saddened to learn of Donald’s passing. May God’s love and the love and prayers of so many family and friends sustain you in the difficult days ahead. I love you Sharon and will be thinking of you.
Jennifer &. Melissa, I am so sorry to hear of your fathers death. Please know that I am thinking of you both.
So very sorry to hear about Donald. Bill and Barry were my very good friends when we were growing up. I will be keeping all family and friends in my thoughts and prayers.
There is something Heavenly about a Father’s Love.❤️. When I look at our pictures, all I see is LOVE. There is not one day of my life that I didn’t feel loved by this precious man. How many daughters can say that their father never said a cross word to them in their whole life, I am one of them. This man showed me what love, kindness, forgiveness, servitude, and happiness was. He was so selfless. As I fly to Texas again today it is with a heavy heart, for when I get to the other side he will not be waiting for me at the gate. I am going to lay my Sweet Daddy to rest and to say goodbye. But I know that this goodbye is not forever. I will see my Daddy again in Heaven one day and it will be with open arms like he always did. I thank my Heavenly Father today for giving me such a Wonderful Father here on earth. I love you Daddy, go rest high on that mountain and I will see you soon. ❤️
He was truly a wonderful man with a big heart, he was also a good stepfather who treated us as his own. We will miss his big texas heart and our condolences to his family.
i miss him a lot. i can’t remember much of him anymore, but i do remember he was such a kind soul, always brightening a room. i wish i got more time with him, but i know he had a great life, and he was surrounded by family until the end.
rest in peace papa.