F. Arthur Benson

F. Arthur M. Benson, age 86, passed away on Sunday, December 12, 2010. He was born in South Africa on May 19, 1924, where his parents, Charles and Alice Benson, were teachers at a school for African children. Ben spent his youth in South Africa and England where he served in the British Infantry in WWII. He moved to Canada, and then to the United States to pursue a career in speech pathology. Ben earned a Master’s Degree in speech pathology, and also a Doctorate in education and worked at the University of Oregon. He was then offered a position with the Ohio State University where he served for 10 years. He retired as Associate Director for the Nisonger Center at OSU. Ben also ran a company called Britcots, giving tours of Britain, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, France, Italy, and South Africa. He greatly enjoyed traveling, and he was an avid reader, especially of non-fiction and WWII literature. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Hazel Benson; children, Stephen Charles (Katherine) Benson and Barbara Kay (Gregory) Brigham; grandchildren, Benson David Price and his mother, Shelley Price, Charles Martin Benson, Marjorie Alice Benson, Emma Kay Brigham, Jacob Brigham, and Jessica (Brett) Skillman; great grandchildren, Thadius Michael Skillman and Barrett Elden Skillman; and other extended family members and friends. A private celebration of Ben’s life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, or to the Central Ohio Parkinson’s Society. Arrangements by the Schoedinger Northeast Chapel (614) 939-4558. Visit www.schoedinger.com to share a favorite memory of Ben.