Donald B. Benson

On Friday, June 10, 2022, Donald B. Benson 94, of Lewes Delaware, formerly of Gaithersburg and Barnesville Maryland, passed away. He was the son of Ralph and Elsie Benson. He grew up in Neelesville and Bethesda, Maryland. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Sallie Larsen Benson, and sister Gloria B Preston. Devoted father of Chris (Karen), Wendy, Tim (Cathy), the late Joseph, Pam (Matt), Danny, Bobby (Kimbra). Also surviving are 10 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

Donald Bruce Benson was born February 2nd, 1928 in Washington, DC to Ralph and Elsie Benson. He grew up on his grandfather's farm with his sister, Gloria, in Neelsville, Maryland until he was 14 when they moved to Bethesda, Maryland.

"Bennie" as he was known, attended Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School where he was a 3-sport star athlete in basketball, football, and baseball. Later, while pitching for Montgomery Junior College (Class of '51), he met the love of his life, Sallie Larsen, and the two were wed on February 27th, 1954.

Married for 64 years until Sallie passed in 2018, they have six surviving children, ten grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren. After early years in Bethesda, the family moved to a small farm in Barnesville, Maryland in 1967 at the foot of Sugarloaf Mountain.

Establishing his own real estate brokerage, Don successfully sold property and farmland in the northern Maryland/southern Pennsylvania region. During this time, he enjoyed coaching various sports teams in which his children were involved, as well as supporting their other activities. Additionally, his commitment to better others extended to coaching and inspiring other young players to achieve their best on and off the field.

Don served his country attaining the rank of Sergeant in the U.S. Army from 1948 to 1955 as a member of the 104th Ordnance in the DC National Guard. He spent summers in training at Ft. Miles, Delaware near Rehoboth Beach where he subsequently vacationed with his family for decades.

Some of Don's various interests were following his favorite sports teams, Big Band dancing with Sallie, as well as American History, which included weekend trips with the family to various historic sites. In later years, he and Sallie enjoyed traveling to visit their grown children in various parts of the world.

Don's most special memories were vacationing with his family at Rehoboth Beach. He enjoyed watching people on the Boardwalk and listening to the ocean waves and seagulls. Occasionally, he would sneak over to the famous Dolles and pick up his favorite candy 'turtles', and was sad when the historic sign was removed in 2022 after the building was sold.

While at Montgomery Junior College, he excelled in five sports: football, basketball, baseball, boxing, and tennis, and was voted Athlete of the Year in '51. In later years, awards included the James Tremble Memorial Trophy, the Knights Quest Achievement Award for Sportsmanship, and his 104th Ordnance Company winning the coveted Eisenhower Trophy. One of his most proud personal achievements was being inducted into the Montgomery College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1992.

Friends may call at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Barnesville MD on Thursday, June 16, 2022 from 10 am to 11am. Church service begins at 11 am. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Memorial contributions can be sent to Fort Miles.

In his own words:

"I look back on those years with so many fond memories.

Not only did I love playing sports, I realized that I had the

ability to help young people develop their talents and

improve their skills. I believe athletics builds character

and self-discipline; it promotes fair play, good

sportsmanship, and team effort. Where many people spend

much time developing their careers and become involved

in many worthwhile endeavors, I chose to devote most of

my post-athletic years to working with and encouraging

my six children to develop their God-given talents, and,

through athletics, to be the best that they could be. As my

children grew, I became involved in the sports which

interested them and became increasingly aware of the

great need for proper guidance and good coaching."

"He has my heart and I have his"