Forrest Gene Benthul, 81, known to everyone as Gene (or Pop), passed away quietly in his sleep in Lorena, TX on Tuesday January 12th. He was born in Lindale, TX, the middle son of Harless Eugene Benthul and Louise Fouse Benthul. Gene spent his early childhood years in Longview, TX before the family moved to Dallas in 1947.
Gene graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1958. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Texas A&M University in 1962. In 1959 he married his high school sweetheart, Martha Murphy. They were married for 61 years and had three children: Bart, Rick and Cyndie, whom they both adored.
While at Texas A&M Gene was in the Corps of Cadets and graduated a commissioned officer in the US Army. He served in the Infantry at Fort Jackson, South Carolina and Fort Benning, Georgia.
After serving in the Army, the family moved to Dallas where Gene worked for Texas Instruments, Inc. After working there for several years, he took positions with other firms outside of the Dallas area, notably in De Ridder, Louisiana and Austin, Texas before settling his family in Plano, Texas. He soon gave in to his entrepreneurial spirit and struck out on his own, owning several small businesses; most recently IGS Educational Software, which provided educational and testing services for the insurance industry. Gene formally retired in October 2016.
Gene had a lifelong love for the game of golf, and in years past could be found on local golf courses on many a weekend. He also had a love for all things Texas A&M and very rarely missed Aggie football and basketball games on TV. He also had a great love for his grandchildren and great grandchildren, always making time to play games and talk. He was a fixture at any sporting event in which his grandchildren were participating. He was a member of Lorena United Methodist Church.
Gene is survived by his wife, Marty; his sister, Beverly Benthul Berry of Dallas; his sons, Bart and wife Caroline of Bryan, Rick and wife Patti of Lorena; his daughter, Cyndie and husband Thomas of Bryan; nine grandchildren, five great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. A celebration of Life will be held at Central United Methodist Church, 5740 Bagby Ave., Woodway, TX 76712 on Thursday January 21st at 2:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital at: https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html?sc_icid=header-btn-donate-now
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