Born to Helen (Holder) and Bill Williams. She died June 27, 2024, in Tucson after battling CIDP and Alzheimer’s disease.
She was a third generation Tucsonan who graduated from Catalina High School in 1965 and later University of Arizona with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education (1969), a master’s in education (1972) and an education specialist degree. She taught hundreds of students over her long career in education. Some of her roles included teacher of English and American literature and assistant principal at Flowing Wells High School, superintendent at Altar Valley School District, principal at Mary E. Dill Elementary School, and administrator at Carden of Tucson Charter School. She believed strongly in education, the inherent dignity of all children, protecting the environment, women’s rights, and animal welfare. She loved nature, books, the beach, every dog she ever met, her family’s ranch near Benson — and most of all, her loving family. She is survived by her college sweetheart and husband of 54 years, Jeff Bennon; her children Brian, Brady, and Stacy Bennon; and her grandchildren Harrison, Leo (Avery), Reed, Patrick, Eliot and Silas Bennon — all of whom will miss her hugs.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to the Alzheimer’s Association, the Humane Society of Southern Arizona, or World Wildlife Fund.
Celebration of her life will be held at the Tucson Botanical Gardens at 2150 N. Alvernon Way on December 22, 2024, at 10am.
