Lanny D. Bender

Lanny D. Bender was born in Centralia, Ill. on Feb 17, 1936 to Lowell D. Bender and Catherine Heick Bender. They preceded him in death. Lanny is survived by his wife, Mary Bender, sons Steve Findley and his wife Luisa, Stuart Findley and his wife JoJo, grandchildren Michelle Findley-Franks, Kristin Findley, Allison Findley Tomlin, Cameron Findley, Cole Findley, Carson Findley, and great grandchild Zack Franks, special friends Anne Findley, Meagin and Mike Hilbert and Norm Tornberg. After graduating high school in Centralia in 1954, he spent four years in the Marine Corp. His under graduate work was at University of Illinois/Urbana-Champaign and University of Southern Ill at Carbondale. He received two masters’ degrees from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. American Air Filter in St. Louis had a contract with the Dew Line Project where he helped design and build air coolers and equipment. He went on and accomplished great things with ITT. He wore many hats: Value engineer, Quality Control Manager, was well known as one of the best contract writers and editor. One of his early jobs was on the space project in Huntsville, AL., where he worked with Dr. Von Braun. After completing a survey in Saudi Arabia to install an air traffic control system, he wrote the contract. They had to charter a plane to deliver the 123 Volumes. They won the contract and installed it just in time to use when desert storm broke out. He lead surveys for NATO, and several more. He was on the management team on a contract to upgrade communications in Thailand and Vietnam. All of NATO communication equipment is maintained at Ft. Gordon, GA. ITT won the contract to manage that. Lanny was Project manager. Late 1991, he and his wife retired from ITT, NY to be close to family in Las Vegas. They were active in the area volunteering at some schools, volunteered at all elections, even went to zoning meetings to help building contractors in the area. They really enjoyed being with family. Lanny spent his last years courageously battling brain tumors.