Obituary of Elden Benton

Services for Elden C. Benton, 80, of Abernathy, Texas, will be held Monday, March 23, 2015, at 2:00pm in the Abernathy First Baptist Church with Revs. Mike O'Donnell and Joel Perez, officiating. Burial will follow in the Abernathy Cemetery under the direction of Abell Funeral Home and Flower Shop of Abernathy. Mr. Benton died Friday, March 20, 2015, at his home in Abernathy, surrounded by his family. He was born in Lubbock County, Texas on January 16, 1935 to E.C. & Gladys Jewel (Woods) Benton. He married the love of his life, Ruby Williams, on October 29, 1955 in Hillsboro, Texas. Married for 59 1/2 years, they lived in the County Line community where he farmed until 1977. They moved to Abernathy where he worked for Abernathy ISD as Bus Foreman and driver until his retirement in 2003. He was a Volunteer Firefighter for the Abernathy Fire Department for eight years. He was named Rookie of the Year, Fireman of the Year in 1979, and Honorary Fireman in 1986. He was a member of the First Baptist Church. Mr. Benton was preceded in death by his 2 brothers, Harrell Lloyd Benton and Donald Benton, a sister, Maudie Rocky, and son-in-law, Dan Sharp. He is survived by his loving wife, Ruby Benton, of Abernathy, Texas, daughters, June Sharp Copaus and husband, Buddy, of Wolfforth, Texas, Cindy Kirby and husband, Chip, of Cotton Center, Texas, and Diana Cano and husband, Rolando, of Dallas, Texas, grandchildren, Angela Cano (Gerardo), Stephen Cano (Sera, and son, Aiden), Chance Kirby and wife, Tara, and Sarah Upton and husband, Jonathan, great-grandchildren, Liliana Ochoa, Mario Ochoa, Taeler Gibson, and Laiken Kirby, brothers, Morris Benton and George Benton, sister, Nell Gordon, and many nieces and nephews. The family wishes to give a very heartfelt thanks to caretakers from Beyond Faith Home Health Care, Hospice of Lubbock, the Abernathy EMS, Firemen, & Policemen. Memorials may be sent to Hospice of Lubbock, 1102 Slide Rd, Lubbock, TX 79416, Abernathy EMS, PO Box 310, or Abernathy VFD, PO Box 266, Abernathy, TX 79311.