She is predeceased by her parents, John and Bernadine Benfield; her husband, Richard (Dick); brother Philip (Buddy); and sister Karen.
She is survived by her brother, Vastal Benfield (Terri), Clarkesville, Georgia; daughters Melissa Rice (Tracy) of Oxford, Alabama; and Michele McKinnis (Jeff) of Atlanta, Georgia; 6 grandchildren: Zachary Dagenhart, LaGrange, Georgia, Molly Carson (Cordell), LaGrange, Georgia, Chloe Dagenhart, Statesboro, Georgia, Walker Dagenhart, Pine Mountain, Georgia, Griffin McKinnis, Atlanta, Georgia, and Tatum McKinnis, Atlanta, Georgia. She also has four great grandchildren; Duke and Lily Dagenhart; Annie and Libby Carson; all from LaGrange, Georgia.
Gwen graduated from Tucker High School and Marsh Business College. She began her career at Ralston Purina in Buckhead. There she met her future husband, Dick, and they were married in April, 1961. Seven years later they had their first daughter, Melissa, followed by Michele. Gwen paused her career to become a stay-at-home mother. Once both girls were in school, she returned to work as a secretary in the Fulton County School System, first at Sandy Springs Middle School, and later as the principal’s secretary at both Holcomb Bridge Middle School and Crabapple Middle School. It was when she began her career in Fulton County that she met her soon to be best friend, Linda Hopping. This unconditional friendship lasted until Gwen’s passing.
Gwen was happiest when spending time with her children and grandchildren, particularly when they came to visit her at her home on St. Simons Island, Georgia. She was an enthusiastic participant in all of their activities!
She was a woman of great faith, singing in the choir at both First Baptist Church of Sandy Springs and later at Dunwoody Baptist Church. In addition to being active in her church home, she loved to travel, garden, exercise, and go on family picnics where she could be outside. The Seaside Six, a special group of friends, provided lifelong friendships and travel.
Services will be held on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, at H.M. Patterson Arlington, with interment to follow at Arlington Cemetery in Sandy Springs, Georgia.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Dementia Society of America or Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Scottish Rite Hospital.
