Jon Eric Benson

Jon Eric Benson, 69, passed away at home on March 14, 2017. He is survived by his loving wife and best friend of 40 years, Marianne Weinberg-Benson; their sons, Jon Benson Jr. (wife, Jennifer) and Paul Benson (wife, Shelly); their grandchildren, Jon Benson III, Nickalous Benson, Eric Benson, Jessica Benson, Alex Benson and Ryan Benson; their great grandchildren, Olivia and Braydon; sisters, Elaine Stock (husband, Tom) and Carol Brown; and brother-in-law, Walter Weinberg (wife, Jo Ann).

Jon began his life in McKeesport, PA, earned a bachelor’s degree at Robert Morris College, and later moved to Atlanta where he ultimately got a job as an accountant at Hardin Construction. He quickly moved up in the corporation while earning a MBA from Emory University until he became Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. At age 42, Jon decided he wanted to become a landscape architect, so Marianne and he enrolled at the University of Georgia where they both earned Masters degrees. He worked at a few firms until he started his own landscape company, jB+a, in 1999 that grew and flourished with an amazing staff under his loving hand. This past October, Jon and his two partners merged the firm and became a division of Barge Waggoner Summer & Cannon. His family, friends, and the landscape architecture community will miss this amazing man.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 18 at 11am at Sandy Springs Chapel, 136 Mt. Vernon Hwy. Atlanta, GA 30328. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in memory of Jon to the Benson Family Graduate Student Support Fund payable to the "UGA Foundation.” Gifts can be sent directly to Ms. Jennifer Messer at 285 S. Jackson Street, Athens GA. 30602.