Dr. Gary Wayne Benson

Gary Wayne Benson was received by his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on December 22, 2025. Born December 30, 1946 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Gary grew up splitting time between living with his parents in Sioux Falls and with his beloved grandparents at the family farm in Astoria, South Dakota, the farm he loved, maintained, and improved to this day.

Gary graduated from Washington High then enrolled at Augustana College where he played football while also serving in the United States Marine Corps ROTC, as well as driving an ambulance to pay his own way. Upon graduation, Gary joined the war in Vietnam and became a decorated combat pilot, part of the Purple Foxes flying a CH-46 Sea Knight to provide medivac and extraction flights while also becoming a Marine Corps boxing champion, earning his lifelong nickname, “Hammer.”

As just one example of Gary’s heroism and character, the President of the United States issued a commendation to Gary for a flight he piloted on November 24, 1970 noting that then First Lieutenant Benson flew into a hostile landing zone under dense fog, heavy rain, mountainous terrain, and fifty foot visibility, all while taking intense enemy small arms and mortar fire. Landing was impossible, but rather than aborting the mission, Benson hovered under fire to provide hoist extraction of wounded Marines, then flying them through further hostile fire to safety, saving these men’s lives. His commendation notes that his actions exemplified courage and superior airmanship under fire.

Integrity, courage and precision under fire were the hallmarks of Gary’s character. After retiring from the Marine Corps, Gary obtained his M.D. in pathology from Old Dominion. In 1984, Gary and his son Sam moved to the Jackson, MS area, and he began a long career at Baptist Medical Center. It was in Jackson that he met his wife, Allie, and they have been married ever since.

Gary would say, however, that the most significant event of his life was being made aware of his sin, his need for redemption, and accepting salvation in Jesus Christ. For the last thirty plus years, Gary has tirelessly dedicated himself to his church, the churches of others, his wife, and his children and many grandchildren, as well as the many animals he loved - ultimately dedicating himself to everyone but himself. He was a highly talented painter, and, much to the jeering of his sons, he even made the centerpieces for family dinners.

Marine, boxer, college football player, farmer, proud mustache wearer - but highly skilled physician, abstract artist, and lapdog lover. Gary was all of these, but most of all, he was a disciple of Jesus Christ who silently and humbly served our family as the rock we could and did always rely on, thanklessly and actively seeking to eschew recognition.

Gary exemplified what it means to be a man but, more importantly, a Man of God, and he deeply influenced and inspired countless people.

Gary is survived by his beloved wife Allie; his son Sam; his step-sons Will, Bridgforth (Lori), and Stewart (Brooke) Rutledge; and his grandchildren Elin Benson; Rimes, Cass, Wat, Cole, Win, Lella, and Dunn Rutledge; and Roe, Gibson, Posey, and Knowles Rutledge. Gary was the oldest of five siblings. He is survived by little brothers Duane (Lana) and Glenn (Cheryl) and little sister Laurie Ticknor (Jim). He is preceded in death by his parents Arnold and Joy Benson and sister Starla Benson Moon.

Of his fellow Marines, he is preceded in death by Steve Brandt; Pat Kenny; Roscoe Combs; and others too numerous to list, and he is survived by Mike Tennent; Jeff Morhardt; George Tucker; and others too numerous to list.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Gary and Allie’s church, Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Madison, MS.

A visitation will be held at Holy Trinity Anglican Church, located at 432 Bozeman Rd, Madison, MS, 39110, on December 29, 2025, from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm.

The funeral service will follow at the same location, beginning at 1:30 pm.

A graveside service will take place at Parkway Memorial Cemetery, 1161 Highland Colony Parkway, Ridgeland, MS, 39157, on December 29, 2025.