Nashville, TN - Dr. Thomas Richard Benning, MD passed away with his family around him on Wednesday, August 1, 2018. He is survived by his wife, Donna Petty Benning; son, Thomas Richard Benning, Jr (Frances Lee Byrne Benning); daughter, Elizabeth Benning Glynn (Prescott Gee Glynn); son, Robert Edward Benning; grandchildren, Hannah Catherine Glynn, Sarah Piper Glynn, Gareth Prescott Glynn, Larissa Elizabeth Glynn, Alathea Grace Glynn, Henry Paul Glynn, Gwendolyn Kaeleigh Benning; and brother, Michael Floyd Benning; sister, Gail Benning Carpenter; sister, Leslie Cecil Benning.
Richard was born July 28, 1945 in Atlanta, GA to Thomas Cobb Benning, Jr and Harriet Anne Floyd Benning. At a young age, he moved with his family to Morristown, TN.
He was a National Merit Scholar and attended Vanderbilt University and The University of Tennessee College of Medicine. Richard met his wife Donna while in medical school and they were married on July 6, 1968. After graduating from medical school, he served as a physician with the US Air Force and was honorably discharged as a Major. Rick and Donna moved with their family to Nashville in 1981. As a well-respected anesthesiologist, Dr. Benning was known for his compassion, humor, and skill. He supported St. Jude's Children's Hospital and Doctors Without Borders.
Richard was loving, supportive, and generous. He had a great love of nature and shared that through the Boy Scouts of America program where he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and induction into the Order of the Arrow. He spent many summers as a boy and an adult hiking sections of the Appalachian Trail. As a parent he supported his family's interest in the outdoors and served as Pack Cubmaster of Pack 556 in Nashville, TN. Richard had a great love of history and sciences. He was an avid reader from a very young age and especially enjoyed science fiction and historical texts. He encouraged his children and grandchildren to excel and achieve their potential and would say, "books should be free to everyone." Rick and Donna celebrated their 50th year of marriage this year by following their original honeymoon trip through the Western US and added in places they were unable to visit before. They shared a love of learning, music, travel and family. Rick took pleasure in sharing the fruits of his success with his family and friends and the community around him. Often quoting one of his favorite movies, Lawrence of Arabia he would say, "I am a river to my people." He took joy in caring for those around him which often led him to "Make it so" whenever anyone showed the slightest need or interest in new pursuits. Thomas Richard Benning, MD will be remembered for his heartfelt generosity.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Jude's Research Hospital in Memphis, TN or to Doctors Without Borders.
