Robert John Bender

Graveside services for Dr. Robert Bender will be held on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014, at 11 a.m. at Magnolia Cemetery. Father Cosgrove will officiate and Stephens Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Dr. Bender, 89, died Thursday, Jan. 23, at the VA Hospital in Kosciusko.

Dr. Bender was born on Feb. 24, 1924, in Marshfield, Wis. While serving in the US Navy from 1943-1945, he fought at Iwo Jima and was aboard the USS Talladega. He attended Palmer Chiropractic College in Davenport, Iowa from 1948-1952. He moved to Meridian in 1956 where he practiced chiropractics until his retirement at 78. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Moose Lodge 1628.

He is survived by his stepchildren, Randy Blass (Brenda) and Pam Blass Pugh (Don); grandchildren Ashley Leigh Blass, Cara Thompson (Mark), Catherine Swindle (Dan), and Joseph Pugh; great-grandchildren Sara Catherine Thompson, Mat Thompson, and William Thompson.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Christina Bender; his wife, Carnell Blass Bender; and his sister, Lorraine Felton.

Visitation will be held on Saturday from 10 a.m. until 10:40 a.m. at Stephens Funeral Home.