Gary was born on Sept. 19th, 1951, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Jack Sinclair Bender and Ruby (Theresa) Bender.
Gary graduated from Turner High School, Kansas City, Kansas in 1971 and was employed at Tension Envelope Company as a material handler for 30 years.
He enjoyed sports and competed in softball, ran track and cross country while in school.
He was known as the family entertainer, playing jokes on his siblings. He taught them how to play sports and even made up his own board games for them to play.
One of his favorite pastimes was getting the family together to play "Name That Tune" and have a taco feast. He was a lover of the arts, enjoyed taking photos and writing poetry; building up quite a collection.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Dorothy, and two sisters-in-law Donna Bender and Connie Bender.
He is survived by his daughter Cindy June Bender; brothers Jack "Jackie" Sinclair Bender III, Michael Ray Bender and Chris Edward Bender (Harriet); sister Susan Marie Schuler (Don) and Nancy Lea Blockmon (Joe); and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.
Visitation will be held at Chapel Hill Funeral Home, 701 North 94th Street, Kansas City, Kansas 66112, on September 25, 2026, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm, followed by a Funeral Service at 1:00 pm at the same location.
A Graveside Service will take place at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, 701 North 94th Street, Kansas City, Kansas 66112, on September 25, 2026.
