John Robert "Bob" Benson

John Robert (Bob) Benson, a native Texan in heart and soul, was born February 4, 1950 at Oakland Naval Hospital. To the great sorrow of family and friends, on March 13, 2015, he passed away suddenly of a heart attack while doing what he loved at a Porsche Club Race in College Station. This was his favorite of all the PCA races because this is where he would see the first bluebonnets. Rosary: 6:00pm Thursday at Moore Funeral Home. Memorial Service: 3:00pm Saturday at Moore Funeral Home. Memorial Mass: 1:00pm Thursday at Most Blessed Catholic Church,Arlington. Celebration of Life and Irish Wake: 2:00pm Saturday, March 28, Knights of Columbus Hall of Bedford, 1319 Brown Trail, Bedford, 76022. In lieu of flowers, the family requests you make a donation to your favorite charity, and enjoy a drive among the bluebonnets.

Bob had a passion for music, physics, science fiction, photography, road trips, astronomy, space and space exploration, anything Texas, good Scotch, cars and racing and the people he met, and life. His camera was a constant companion, and he left a library of images and memories, from wildflowers to star and cloudscapes as far as his lens could reach.

Bob composed for piano and played clarinet in bands through College, which is where he met Patricia, who he married in 1973. After earning a Masters degree in Physics from the University of Texas at Arlington, Bob enjoyed a career designing technology. From his first employment, he was known as the “Wizard”. His favorite work was as Security Chief for the Supercollider.

Bob loved cars and driving, often departing with no destination in mind, camera in reach, the more winding the road the better. In 1984 a friend introduced Bob to the Porsche Club TSD Rally program; from winding country roads he took up driving race tracks, and became an Instructor in the PCA Drivers Education program. His interest was not in being a racer himself, and in addition to working the Porsche Club Races, Bob joined Sports Car Club of America, officiating at their races as a corner worker and captain. Bob became the Safety Chair for the Dallas-Ft Worth area Porsche Club racing program, his favorite occupation for the last six years.

After being the first driver on the track in the early morning, Bob would remind the drivers that their first goal was to return safely to their families, and to have fun along the way. He easily shared the joy he had along the way of his life with so many.

The bluebonnets will be particularly beautiful this year, and we will remember Bob. Farewell and Godspeed - we will miss you.

Survivors include his wife Patricia, his mother, Audrey Young, brother Paul, nephews Chris Wayt, Paul Jr. and Jason, and their children and many, many friends who will long remember him and tell the stories.