William Leon Benson Sr.

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 5, 2011 at Gadsden Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1200 Piedmont Cut-Off (Hwy 278 E) Gadsden, AL 35903, for William L. Benson, Sr. of Gadsden, who passed away Sunday, October 2, 2011. Rev. Wade Acton will officiate with burial at Crestwood Cemetery. Collier-Butler Funeral and Cremation Service directing.

Mr. Benson was born on December 18, 1924 in Etowah County. He was a member and elder of Gadsden Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He was a World War II Veteran-U.S. Navy-LST 511, having served in Exercise Tiger and Invasion of Normandy on D Day.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Simon and Katie Benson; brothers, Dwight, James E. (Dick) and Simon P. Benson, Jr; sister, Mary Benson; son-in-law, Allen Thornton; and great granddaughter, Ally Marie Benson.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Dorothy C. Benson; daughters, Sharon Brady (Sonny) and Sylvia Thornton, Dothan, AL; son, William L. Benson, Jr. (Annette), Columbus, MS; grandchildren, Carl Brady (Gina), Alexandria, AL; Connie Brannon (Chris), Albertville, AL; Brian Benson (Jennifer), Columbus, MS; Byron Benson (Melanie), Caledonia, MS; Jason Gentry (Jeaneane), Columbus, MS; Wesley Thornton, Washington D.C. and Katie Parrish (Ben), Bessemer, AL; great grandchildren, Jessica Brannon, Kolby Brannon, Jordan Smith, Caleb Hairston (Courtney), Avery Benson, Claire Benson, Lily Benson, Jase Gentry and Aby Gentry; great great grandchildren, Jesslyn Hincy and Caden Hairston.

Pallbearers will be grandsons, Carl Brady, Chris Brannon, Brian Benson, Byron Benson, Wes Thornton, Ben Parrish, Jason Gentry and great grandsons, Jordan Smith, Caleb Hairston, Kolby Brannon, Avery Benson and Jase Gentry.

Honorary pallbearers will be Sears Retirees and all church family and friends.

The family would like to express a special thanks to Dr. J. Todd Cross, Dr. Courtney Lowe, Dr. Asif Kaleem, Dr. Peter Szeto, Doctors and staff of Gadsden VA Medical Center, Southern Care Hospice, especially nurse Stacey Johnson and aide Dennis Tate for their loving care, as well as special sitters, Ellie Maciulewicz, Tommie Bryant and Kathryn Harcrow for their faithful loving care, Gadsden Cumberland Presbyterian Church family, especially, Richard Dean, Michael Moyer, Mike, Lisa and Brock Kirby.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to Gadsden Cumberland Presbyterian Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 2055, Gadsden, AL 35903 or to Southern Care Hospice Indigent Patient Fund.

Visitation will be held Tuesday evening from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Gadsden Cumberland Presbyterian Church.