SHERBURNE – Alfred Rush Benedict, 77, of Furman Mills Rd., passed away Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008 at the VA Medical Center, Syracuse, following a long battle with cancer.
He was born March 15, 1931 in Deposit, a son of Grant and Lelia O’Henry Benedict and received his education in New Berlin, Gilbertsville and Clinton schools. On Aug. 1, 1951, he joined the U.S. Army, serving in the Korean Conflict, where he was assigned to the POW exchange. He continued his family’s tradition of military service to the country, adding to the list of wars fought in by the Benedicts that included the Civil War, the Spanish American War, World War I and World War II. Following his return from overseas, he was a dairy farmer and a truck driver. For the past 16 years, he worked for the Syracuse Newspapers. On Nov. 11, 1961, Al married Sonja N. Reynolds in Deansboro. He was an outdoorsman whose favorite time of the year was autumn. He enjoyed fishing and hunting, as well as taking rides to the Adirondacks in the fall. He loved spending time with his grandchildren who were his pride and joy, and being with people.
Mr. Benedict was a member of the VFW #15033 and a past member of the American Legion.
Surviving are his wife, Sonja; a daughter, Roberta Weymouth of Norwich, and her companion, Nathan Hodge of Norwich; two grandchildren, Kaitlin Weymouth of Norwich, Alfred Weymouth of Sherburne; four sisters and three brothers-in-law, Emma Jones of Oriskany Falls; Helen and Don Dietz of Constantia; Patricia and Joseph Stolo of Melbourne, Fla.; Sandra and Dennis Fox of Lake Worth, Fla.; a son-in-law, Harold Weymouth of Sherburne; and many nieces, nephews and in-laws. He was predeceased by four brothers, Frank, Donald, Larry and Grant Benedict, and three sisters, Clara Dietz, Elva Brown and Margaret Uhlig.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday from the Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Home, 10 S. Main St., Sherburne, with Rev. Stephen Reese officiating.
Interment with military honors will be in the South Brookfield Cemetery.
Friends are invited to call at the funeral home on Wednesday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m.