LTC DEWARD E. BENTON To TAPS

LTC DEWARD E. BENTON passed away 9/30/2012.

Deward E. Benton, Lieutenant Colonel (R), USA, and longtime Brevard County resident, passed away on Sunday, September 30, 2012. He was a wonderful loving father, soldier, gentleman and teacher. 

Mr. Benton was born in Josie, Alabama on September 27, 1916, and enlisted in the United States Army in 1932. Duty stations included the Territory of Alaska, the Pacific Theater in WWII, Picatinny Arsenal, post-WWII Germany, and the Army Staff at the Pentagon. He graduated from the University of Maryland while on active duty and subsequent to retirement received a Masters Degree from Auburn University and was an avid "War Eagle" fan for the remainder of his life. 

Mr. Benton and his family moved to Rockledge, Florida in 1964, and he was a longtime professor at Brevard Community College. 

He was preceded in death by his wife, Bessie P. Benton, and son, David W. Benton, and left behind his current wife, Alice Gourley Benton of Cocoa Beach. Other survivors of the family include son, Deward O. Benton of Jacksonville, Florida; daughter, Deborah Vanderslice of Asheville, North Carolina; son, Darryl L. Benton of Rockledge; and daughter, Dee Turner of Merritt Island. He is also survived by multiple grandchildren and great grandchildren.