OBITUARY:
He finally made it home, Eugene Robert Benninghoff, 86, went into the arms of his Savior on November 27, 2021, surrounded by his loving family.
Eugene, better known as Benny, leaves behind his loving wife of 46 years, Sandra Sue whom he married on his birthday and also a sister Dixie Fish. Also surviving are his children, Kimberly (Kent) Onax, Kathy Austin, Robert (Donna) Watkins, Kevin (Teresa) Benninghoff, Corinne Watkins, Kelly (Billy) Dykstra, Joe Watkins, Kenneth (Chris) Watkins, and David (Jenn) Benninghoff.
Eugene had 42 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren with two more grandbabies on the way.
Besides his parents, preceding him in death is a sister, Lila Grant; a brother Walter Benninghoff; and two great grandchildren Branson and Hannah.
Eugene was born to Carthel and Gertrude Benninghoff on June 26, 1935. Benny was a star pitcher for the South Bend Riley Wildcats. After throwing several no-hitters in his senior year, Benny earned tryouts with the Chicago White Sox, he said one of his proudest moments was when his mother was interviewed on television about his tryouts with the White Sox. Good jobs were difficult to find and because of the uncertainty of pay as major league baseball didn't pay then what they do now and the chance to actually play in the big leagues, he took a safer job with Indiana Bell also known as Ameritech and then AT&T, retiring after 41 years of service.
Prior to retirement, Eugene and Sandra bought their little cottage on the edge of Bruce Lake in Kewanna, Indiana where they enjoyed the last 30 years fishing, boating, cheering on the Irish, Cubbies and the Bulls, but most of all spending time with their treasured family.
After hearing the news of Benny's death, a close neighborhood friend stated "He was an awesome guy! He never made us feel like we were annoying kids in the neighborhood. He treated us with respect and made us feel welcome. He's one of those people you were glad you met in your life." I believe that's how most people felt about our dad. He was kind, jovial, generous and gentle, as long as you didn't poke Gentle Ben with a stick! Dad was a blessing to our mother and to her four sons and two daughters having him in our life provided us with fatherly love, discipline and the tutelage we kids needed from a dad. If any of his five sons became half of the dad he was, they will be amazing dads too! Our dad will truly be missed but we rejoice that he is no longer in pain and we will be joining him one day in paradise.
The family would like to thank the staff from Center for Hospice Care, especially Brittany and Michelle.
Visitation for family will be on Thursday 12/2 from 4 to 5 PM and for friends 5 to 7 PM at Hahn Funeral Home 505 E. 8th St., Mishawaka, IN and then on Friday 10-11 AM with funeral services at 11. Burial will be at Southlawn cemetery on US 31 S. in South Bend, Indiana.BURIAL:
Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/234460957/eugene_robert-benninghoff: accessed May 13, 2024), memorial page for Eugene Robert “Benny” Benninghoff (26 Jun 1935–27 Nov 2021), Find a Grave Memorial ID 234460957, citing Southlawn Cemetery, South Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana, USA; Maintained by Byron (contributor 48700184).
OBITUARY:
God called His “Little Lamb, Sandra to her eternal home on Monday, January 23, 2023, the home she yearned for. Sandie was born to John and Virginia (Knowles) Crothers on November 1, 1940, in South Bend, Indiana. She graduated from Riley High School and then from World Harvest Bible College as valedictorian in 1988. Sandra was a single mom for many years before marrying an awesome man, Eugene Benninghoff, on his birthday June 26, 1975. Eugene preceded her in death on November 27, 2021. Also preceding her in death are 2 great grandbabies: Branson Watkins and Hannah Piedre. Sandie always dreamed of having 12 children. She was blessed with 6 and ended up with her 12 when they all married. She leaves behind her devoted children: Kim (Kent) Onax, Bob (Donna) Watkins, Corinne Watkins, Joe Watkins, Kenneth (Chris) Watkins, and David (Jenn) Benninghoff, and a special stepdaughter, Kathy Austin. Sandra also leaves behind 64 adoring grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren, with 2 more great-great grands on the way, along with her sister, Jill (Tom) Richards; brother, Jack (Patti) Crothers; and 4 very special nieces: Kathy, Jacqui, Amy and Brittany; a loving sister-in-law, Dixie Fish; her Uncle Larry (Caroline) Knowles and a special lifelong friend, Phyllis Hong.
After retirement, Eugene and Sandra moved to their lake cottage on the edge of Lake Bruce in Kewanna, Indiana where they loved to fish, go boating, and host many family events with family and friends camping not only in their home but also spread out on their lawn. She always kept a garden and made the best zucchini bread ever. She read the Bible daily for hours on end and prayed for many lives from her prayer request books, she was a mighty prayer warrior. Sandy inherited the strength and boldness of her dad and the sweet, gentle side from her mom. She had a soft, tender healing touch in her hands, which those hands could play the sweetest song on her piano and crochet a gorgeous bedspread. Keeping her Minister license valid, she was able to marry numerous grandchildren and even baptized a few. She lived like Jesus and loved like Jesus, as her granddaughter Morgan wrote, “I’d like to think that if she could have said goodbye, it would have been as she always said goodbye, ‘God be with you’”, so to our loving mom, grandma, sister, aunt, and friend, “may His peace be with you” and it truly is His peace that is with you! Although our hearts are heavy with missing our sweet momma, we are overjoyed that she finally met her Jesus face to face with no more suffering. “Glory to God who gave us life beyond the grave.”
Visitation will be 2 pm-5 pm on Sunday, January 29, 2023, at Hahn Funeral Home, 505 W. 8th Street, Mishawaka, IN. Funeral service will be at 11 am on Monday, January 30th at the funeral home with visitation 1 hour prior. Burial will follow in Southlawn Cemetery in South Bend, IN.
https://www.hahnfuneralhomes.com/obituary/Sandra-BenninghoffBURIAL:
Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/248912176/sandra_sue-benninghoff: accessed May 13, 2024), memorial page for Sandra Sue Crothers Benninghoff (1 Nov 1940–23 Jan 2023), Find a Grave Memorial ID 248912176, citing Southlawn Cemetery, South Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana, USA; Maintained by DWB (contributor 51150499).
1850 US Census:
"United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHJX-Z99 : 12 April 2016), Eli W Knowles in household of Ephram Knowles, Montgomery, Gibson, Indiana, United States; citing family 834, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
1900 US Census:
"United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M99V-233 : accessed 28 October 2021), Charles Wheaton in household of Louis Wheaton, Greer Township, Warrick, Indiana, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 149, sheet 2A, family 26, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,411.1910 US Census:
"United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MKGL-MLK : accessed 28 October 2021), Charles Wheaton, Barton, Gibson, Indiana, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 2, sheet 5B, family 118, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 350; FHL microfilm 1,374,363.1920 US Census:
"United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MF7C-R6J : 1 February 2021), Charles Wheaton, 1920.1930 US Census:
"United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHMN-NXV : accessed 28 October 2021), Charles Wheaton, Barton, Gibson, Indiana, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 3, sheet 3A, line 12, family 58, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 588; FHL microfilm 2,340,323.1940 US Census:
"United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V1R1-449 : 5 January 2021), Charles Wheaton, Barton Township, Gibson, Indiana, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 26-3, sheet 9B, line 51, family 180, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 1046.BURIAL:
Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/25151402/charles-wheaton : accessed 28 October 2021), memorial page for Charles Wheaton (1881–1970), Find a Grave Memorial ID 25151402, citing Albright Cemetery, Mackey, Gibson County, Indiana, USA ; Maintained by Ann O (contributor 46961609) .
1910 US Census:
"United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MKGL-ML2 : accessed 28 October 2021), Flora C Wheaton in household of Charles Wheaton, Barton, Gibson, Indiana, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 2, sheet 5B, family 118, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 350; FHL microfilm 1,374,363.1920 US Census:
"United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MF7C-R6V : 1 February 2021), Flora C Wheaton in entry for Charles Wheaton, 1920.1930 US Census:
"United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHMN-NXK : accessed 28 October 2021), Flora C Wheaton in household of Charles Wheaton, Barton, Gibson, Indiana, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 3, sheet 3A, line 13, family 58, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 588; FHL microfilm 2,340,323.1940 US Census:
"United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V1R1-44S : 5 January 2021), Flora Wheaton in household of Charles Wheaton, Barton Township, Gibson, Indiana, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 26-3, sheet 9B, line 52, family 180, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 1046.BURIAL:
Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/25151403/flora-c-wheaton : accessed 28 October 2021), memorial page for Flora C Wheaton (1883–1949), Find a Grave Memorial ID 25151403, citing Albright Cemetery, Mackey, Gibson County, Indiana, USA ; Maintained by Ann O (contributor 46961609) .
Marriage Notes for Charles Wheaton and Flora Caroline KOERNER-4808
MARRIAGE:
"Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:27KP-1J6 : 18 October 2021), Charles Wheaton and Flora Koerner, 17 Dec 1906; citing Warrick, Indiana, United States, Marriage License, Indiana Commission on Public Records, Indianapolis; FHL microfilm 007030904.
BURIAL:
Find a Grave, database and images (www.findagrave.com/memorial/91372193/borden-augie-baker : accessed 30 June 2021), memorial page for Borden Augie Baker (2 Nov 1909–26 May 1952), Find a Grave Memorial ID 91372193, citing Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana, USA ; Maintained by PFBGGK (contributor 48910826) .
BURIAL:
Find a Grave, database and images (www.findagrave.com/memorial/124500917/polly-ann-andrew : accessed 30 June 2021), memorial page for Polly Ann Gravil Andrew (10 Apr 1902–2 Jun 1974), Find a Grave Memorial ID 124500917, citing Locust Hill Cemetery, Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana, USA ; Maintained by PFBGGK (contributor 48910826) .
BURIAL:
Find a Grave, database and images (www.findagrave.com/memorial/135328000/mary-fances-baker : accessed 30 June 2021), memorial page for Mary Fances Baker (6 Mar 1930–8 Mar 1930), Find a Grave Memorial ID 135328000, citing Oak Hill Cemetery, Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana, USA ; Maintained by woowoo (contributor 49949980) .