Mary A. Hilgartner Benning's Obituary
Mary Ann Campbell Hilgartner Benning died April 18, 2016 in Dallas. Born in Pampa, Texas on May 14, 1935 to Herbert Campbell and the former Mavis Ann Berryman. Mary graduated from R. L. Paschal High School in Fort Worth in 1952 and from Baylor University in 1956. Mary met her husband of 46 years, Lee Mitchell Hilgartner, in 1955 on a blind date arranged by the couple’s aunts and uncles. Following their wedding at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Fort Worth, Mary and Lee moved to France where Lee was stationed in the Air Force. They returned to South Texas in 1959, where Lee ran the family ranch and Mary taught elementary school in nearby Yorktown and Victoria. They had two children, Louis in 1962 and LeeAnn in 1966, before moving to Dallas in 1972. A lifelong educator, Mary taught 4th grade in the Richardson ISD, and later served as a middle school counselor until her retirement in 2007. She was an active member of the Church of the Incarnation, where many examples of her embroidery handwork remain. Mary loved puzzles and games, and, most especially, music; she was a longtime subscriber to the Dallas Symphony, Dallas Opera, and the Texas Ballet Theatre. In 2008, she married Carl Joshua Benning, Jr. Together, they enjoyed traveling, visiting with family and friends, and, above all, seeing their grandchildren grow and thrive. Preceded in death by her parents Mavis and Herbert Campbell, and by husband Lee and son Louis Campbell Hilgartner. Survived by husband Carl Benning; daughter LeeAnn Facque-Le Goff and husband Franck; grandchildren Christian Harle, Avery Harle, and Elisa Facque-Le Goff; first cousin Harvey Berryman Cash and wife JoBeth; Jim Benning and wife Karen; their daughters Jessica, Caroline, and Alexandra Benning along with their respective fiancés; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins from the Berryman/Cash, Campbell, and Hilgartner families; and a host of friends, both longtime and recent, with whom she shared the blessings of life and love. The family wishes to thank Mary’s oncologist, Dr. Kristi McIntyre, and the wonderfully kind and professional staffs at Texas Oncology, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, and Seasons Hospice Palliative Care. Funeral services will be held Thursday, April 21 at 2:30 pm, Church of the Incarnation, 3966 McKinney Avenue, Dallas, Texas. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Restland Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 13005 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX 75243. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Mary’s name to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation or the American Macular Degeneration Foundation
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