Jack Piland Benson, of Fayetteville, Ga., entered into the presence of our Heavenly Father on June 7, 2018.
His doctors called him the “Energizer Bunny” because of his passion to live, even with congestive heart failure and dementia. He loved to make us and the doctors laugh with his quick wit and charm.
Jack was born February 23, 1931 to Esco Benson and Ann Piland Benson. He graduated from Cordele High School in 1948, where he was involved in every sport available. He loved swimming, whether at the Flint River, St. George Island, or St. Simons Island in Georgia. He would often find a pool to do acrobatic tricks, dive, and walk on his hands on the diving board, so much that hotel owners would ask him to dive for their guests! He was an excellent golfer and great cook.
Jack was proud to serve in the Army during the Korean Conflict. He was so proud to be a veteran. He attended Middle Georgia College in Cochran, Ga. Jack loved to joke when at Middle Georgia College that he wanted to marry a woman with a million freckles and he did! He married June Strickland in 1952, his girl with a million freckles. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Tennessee Temple University in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Jack loved to share his faith in Jesus Christ with his family and others. He had a big heart of generosity, whether strangers or close relatives, he would give whatever he had to meet the needs of others. In 1987, Jack and June operated their barbeque business, The Choo Choo Bar-b-que in Thomasville, Ga. until moving to Fayetteville, Ga. in 2000 to be close to family. The past few years dementia took a lot of things away from Jack, but it was not able to take away the love he shared with others and the love he had for our Savior, Jesus Christ. His favorite thing to do as his illness progressed was ride in his favorite car, the Prius and listen to cd’s of Nat King Cole, often singing along to “Unforgettable,” “Mona Lisa,” or actually all the songs on that cd, because he played and sang along on every car ride!
Jack is survived by his wife of 65 years, June Strickland Benson; five children, Dona Rogers (John Pate), Cordele, Ga., Denee Hand of Fayetteville, Ga., Lynn Mixon of Fayetteville, Ga., Lisa Spearman (Donny) of Peachtree City, Ga., and Matt Benson (Melody) of Peachtree City, Ga.; 18 grandchildren; 27 great grandchildren; two sisters, Helen Benson Williams of Cordele, Ga. and Dorothy Benson McGown (Mike) of Jacksonville, Fla.; two nieces and one nephew.
He was preceded in death by his parents; mother-in-law, Lucile Strickland; father-in-law, Lester Strickland; brother-in-law, Richard Williams, Sr.; and son-in-law, Dr. Dean Mixon.
A memorial Service will be held at a later date.
Carl J. Mowell & Son Funeral Home, Fayetteville – www.mowellfuneralhome.com.
