Gladys Leota Bench

Born October 1, 1926 Passed Away January 24, 2015

Gladys Bench was a Hanford resident for many years. She passed away at the age of 89 years old on Saturday, January 24, 2015.

Gladys was born on October 1, 1926 in Braggs, Oklahoma. She was the youngest of 12 children. Her father was a sharecropper and her mother was a homemaker. She was a teenager during WWII and went to work in Oklahoma City as a riveter in an airplane factory. Gladys arrived in Hanford when she was 18 years old. Her first job in Hanford was working at the Chinese Laundry in China Alley. About February 1946, Gladys met Chuck Bench while dining at the Harris Café. A few months later, June 6, 1946, Gladys and Chuck were married. She became a homemaker and Chuck was a truck driver. In 1947, Shirley Charlene was born. In 1948, Sharon Kay was born. Ethel Brenda was born in 1953 followed by Charles Chris three years later in 1956. Gladys loved her children very much and taught them to love the Lord.

As the children grew up and began raising their own families, Gladys enjoyed her yard and her rose bushes. She would take pleasure in sitting outside drinking iced tea and looking at her beautiful flowers. She loved when the children and grandchildren came to visit.

Three weeks before their 50th wedding anniversary, Chuck passed away on May 16, 1996. It was very hard on Gladys. She loved him very much. Gladys spent many days with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. If you asked her about her life, she would say she was blessed. She enjoyed her family very much. She will be missed and forever in our memories.

Gladys is survived by her three daughters, Charlene and her husband Danny of Arkansas, Kay and her husband Bruce of Virginia Beach, VA, Brenda of Pittsburgh, CA and one son, Chris and his wife Gloria of Hanford, CA. She also has 14 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband, Chuck Bench.

A Private Graveside Service will take place with family at Grangeville Cemetery in Armona, California.

Family and Friends are invited to view Gladys’ legacy at www.peoplesfuneralchapel.com and send condolences to the family.

Services are under the direction of People’s Funeral Chapel.

PEOPLE’S FUNERAL CHAPEL

501 N. Douty Street * Hanford, CA 93230

559-584-5591 * www.peoplesfuneralchapel.com