Benedict, Lona Efnor 1921-2003

EFNOR, BENEDICT, LAWRENCE, LEHLE, KELLEY, EARLEY

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 7/29/2015 at 06:49:00

Lona Efnor Benedict

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Lona Efnor Benedict, 81, of Fayetteville, Ark., formerly of Newton, died Saturday, Aug. 30, in Fayetteville.

Funeral services sere held in Fayetteville and burial was at Fairview Memorial Gardens in Fayetteville, Moore's Chapel in Fayetteville, Ark., handled arrangements.

Memorials will be accepted to United Campus Ministry, 902 W. Maple St., Fayetteville, Ark. 72701, or to the First United Presbyterian Church, 695 Calvin St., Fayetteville, Ark. 72703.

The daughter of Henry and LaNore Efnor, she was born Sept. 14, 1921, in Newton. She spent her childhood in Newton and attended Iowa State University, where she met her husband, Russell Benedict. While he served during World War II, she worked for the FBI in the fingerprint division. They moved to Fayetteville when her husband accepted a position as a professor of agricultural engineering at the University of Arkansas.

While raising her family, she returned to college and graduated with a bachelor's and master's degrees in sociology, working with the initial implementation of Head Start n Washington County. She taught sociology at the University of Arkansas and was an active member of the League of Women Voters. She enjoyed garden club, bridge club and theology book club and enjoyed studying theology and art.

Mrs. Benedict hosted a number of foreign exchange students in her home and after retiring, traveled to Hawaii, Alaska and throughout the United States, Africa, Finland, Iceland, Nova Scotia, Japan, Ireland, Scotland and throughout Europe, attending elder hostel programs. She was a long-time member of the First United Presbyterian Church and served on numerous committees and as an elder.

Survivors include a son, Jon Benedict of Fayetteville, Ark.; three daughters, Ann Bennett Lawrence of North Carolina, Lynn Lehle and her husband Fred of Texas and Carol Kelley and her husband Don of Indiana; a brother, H. Edwin Efnor and his wife Marilyn of Colorado; eight grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and three grandchildren. ~ The Newton Daily News, Newton, Iowa Fri 24 Cot 2003.
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Lona Efnor Benedict
Birth: Sep. 14, 1921
Death: Aug. 30, 2003

in Newton, Iowa, to Henry and LaNore Efnor, She was preceded in death by her husband, Russell Benedict, and three grandchildren, Marie Benedict, Michael Bennett and Anthony Bennett.

She spent her childhood in Newton, Iowa, and attended Iowa State University where she met her husband. While Mr. Benedict served in World War II, she worked for the FBI in the fingerprint division, during the war years. They came to Fayetteville in 1949, when Mr. Benedict accepted a position as a professor of agricultural engineering at the University of Arkansas. While raising her family in Fayetteville, she returned to college and graduated with bachelor and master degrees in sociology, and she worked with the initial implementation of Head Start in Washington County. She worked in the field of economic opportunity and taught sociology at the University of Arkansas. She was an active member of the League of Women Voters and was involved in civic issues for many years in Fayetteville. She enjoyed garden club, bridge club and theology book club.

She died in Fayetteville, AR after surviving cancer for 25 years. her obit from Morning News.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to United Campus Ministry, 902 W. Maple St., Fayetteville, 72703 or First United Presbyterian Church, 695 Calvin, Fayetteville, 72703.

Family links:
Parents:
Henry Edwin Efnor (1897 - 1988)
Ernestine LaNore Earley Efnor (1896 - 1991)

Spouse:
Russell Herman Benedict (1919 - 1975)

Burial: Fairview Memorial Gardens Fayetteville
Washington County Arkansas, USA

Created by: Rosa Cline
Record added: Mar 11, 2004
Find A Grave Memorial# 8493179 ~ Find A Grave.