Floyd M Benefield

Born January 16, 1922 in Thebes to Claude William and Nettie Mae (Copeland) Benefield, he married Ruby Ellen Holliday on October 4, 1941 in Jackson, Missouri.  She died July 19, 2007 in North Pekin.  He was also preceded in death by his parents, one son (Carlis Ray Benefield), three grandchildren; four sisters, and one brother.

Surviving are five daughters, Alice Fay McClanahan, Wanda Mae Merritt, Charlotte Kay (Gary) Turner, Linda Jane (Jerry) Agee, and Rebecca Pauline Benefield, all of Pekin; fourteen grandchildren, twenty-nine great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Clifford (Minnie) Benefield of Anna and Robert (Bonnie) Benefield of Kentucky.

A United States Army veteran of World War II, he severed from February 10, 1943 to December 10, 1945.

Floyd last worked for the Pekin Park District from 1985 to 1989.  Previously, he worked at Proctor Hospital in Peoria as a custodian, security guard for Oberlander’s, Corn Products Company in Pekin from 1948 to 1953 and a custodian at Dunlap High School from 1980 to 1985.

He was a member of Faith Tabernacle Full Gospel Church in rural Pekin. 

His funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, January 22, 2009 at the Preston-Hanley Funeral Home, Pekin Chapel.  The Rev. Connie Rigler will officiate.  Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.  Burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery in Pekin.

Memorial contributions may be made to his church.