Dolly K. Benson's Obituary
Dolly Kathryn Benson of Richardson passed away May 29, 2016 at the age of 97. She was born in Eureka, Kansas on March 25, 1919, and grew up in Emporia, Kansas. She graduated from Kansas State Teachers College in Emporia in 1939, and taught her first year at Paxico Rural High School near Topeka especially enjoying being that year’s Senior Class Sponsor. On June 15, 1940, Dolly married Carl Benson, a recent Petroleum Engineering graduate of Ohio State University. They were married in the First Methodist Church in Shreveport, La, and set up housekeeping in Rodessa, La, where Carl worked for Phillips Petroleum Co. as an E&P engineer. Carl was called to active duty in February, 1942, having been commissioned through ROTC at Ohio State. Dolly and her husband lived in San Antonio and Sparta, WI, as Carl trained with the 9th Infantry (2nd Div), before he shipped out to Europe in late 1943. While Carl was in Europe, Dolly divided time working and being with family in Shreveport, Emporia and Ohio. Upon Carl’s return to the US in late 1945, they rejoined Phillips in Minden, LA. They enjoyed many happy years in Minden, LA, Bartlesville, OK(1948), Big Spring, TX (1950), Midland, TX(1965). Dolly returned to teaching at Boydstun Elementary School in Big Spring in 1959, where she lived until 1965. She then moved with her family to Midland and continued teaching her favorite subject, Math, at Goddard Jr. High School until 1980, when she and her husband retired. Dolly so loved her numerous students and sharing delightful memories with fellow teachers and administrators for many years after her retirement. She especially took pride in her association with Delta Kappa Gamma, International Society for Key Women Educators, into which she was inducted in Big Spring, and worked extensively with in Midland. She was honored as a 50 year member of Delta Kappa Gamma at its State convention in Irving in 2012. Carl and Dolly had a wonderful retirement, enjoying the fruits of their long working years. They were active members of St Luke’s Methodist Church in Midland. They regularly traveled to “the Valley” when it was cold, and to the New Mexico mountains when it was hot. They also made extensive international trips all over the world. Between travels, Dolly and Carl enjoyed golf at Ranchland Country Club, and traveled often to Lubbock to cheer on the Texas Tech Red Raiders. Dolly was an avid quilter, knitter and bridge player. Up until the day she passed, Dolly could be found cheering on the Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers, and several of her favorite NCAA basketball teams. Dolly moved to the The Eldorado Independent Living facility in Richardson where she led a group of residents to knite 1,000 baby caps for various Dallas hospitals’ maternity units. Her final home was at the Signature Pointe retirement community in Dallas. She received exceptional and loving care from Baylor Elder Housecalls, and Hospice Plus of Dallas. Dolly was preceded in death by her parents Samuel and Mildred Gage of Emporia, KA, and the love of her life, Carl. She is survived by her son, Carl Benson Jr, and wife Carol of Richardson, her daughter Sally Papasan and husband Randall of Granbury. She is also survived by her five Granddaughters: Catheryn Orihuela, Courtney Benson, Pamela Hendrikson, Amber Papasan and Randi Jo Williams. Dolly had 13 Great Grandchildren and 2 Great-Great Granddaughter. Family will receive friends on Thursday, June 2, 2016 from 12:00PM – 2:00PM at Restland Funeral Home. Services will be held Thursday, June 2, 2016 at 3:00 PM in The Abbey Chapel at Restland Funeral Home. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Restland Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 13005 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX 75243.
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