Stay Tuned!

Hey, everybody! In case you missed this year's reunion, I wanted to give an update on how it went. The weather was the best it's been in three years; not too hot, not too cold. We thought we might get rained out there for a while, but it passed. The food was fantastic (as always), and the auction went well. ...And we didn't have to share the pavilion with strangers!
I will be posting photos, and a list of newly appointed officers as soon as I get a chance to go through the "tote."
We would like to thank Mary Alice for graciously holding the office of President for the last 5 years. Yes, you read it correctly, 5 years. Thank you. We appreciate everything you've done!

We had sort of a small turnout this year, so lets try to get the word out early for next year. It would be nice to see some folks who don't usually come... I'll start working on my brother and sister ASAP.
Check back here often. I will be adding and changing things in the weeks to come.

We Have A New Benge! Zedekiah Creed.

Meet Zedekiah Creed Benge, 

son of Aaron and Rebecca Benge. Brother to Lukas Benge, Ethan Chezem,
Noah Benge and Esther Benge.

Born Sept 23, 9lb 12.8 oz,

all digits present and accounted for!

(click photo for larger view)

His first name comes from the bible, Jeremiah chapter 29 (in Hebrew means "Righteous King"),
and Creed is a family name;
Creed was Tilford's brother
(you can read the post and see a picture of Tilford and Creed by clicking here.)

From what I understand,

Tilford was Albert's father,

who was Henry's father,

who was Cecil's father,

who was my father,

making Creed my Great, Great Uncle,

and Zedekiah's Great, Great, Great Uncle.

PFC Samual Edward Benge

I would like to thank my cousins, Rusty McCullough and Chad Benge for these pictures relating to my uncle Sam.
(Click on any photo to see a larger image)

 

The first is a picture of Samuel "Bo" Benge (Right) at AIT, in Fort Lewis, Washington. He is pictured with Jackie Bartlett from Bedford Indiana

Samuel Benge with mother, Hazel Benge Ft Knox, KY just before he left for Vietnam.

Samuel "Bo" Benge was only in Vietnam for 31 days before losing his life. 

His tour began on May 2, 1969.
He became a casualty of war on June 3, 1969;
in Binh Duong, South Vietnam.

Sam's name appears on panel 23West, Line 50 on the
Vietnam War Memorial in Washington DC (pictured below).
Click here to visit his information on the Wall online.

Below is a post card sent by Sam, to Rusty McCullough.
(I don't have the front of the second post card...)

and another:

Four Brothers:

Above, Left to Right: Samuel Benge, Virgil "Ricky Benge, James Benge and Cecil "Buddy" Benge

"The Year We Shared The Pavilion"

If you were at this year's family reunion, and want some of your pictures posted here, please email them to me at: romans833@yahoo.com.

We had a great time this year, all things considered. 2010 will be known as the "Year we had to share the pavilion." 

It was good never the less.

Thanks to Chad Benge for these photos:

Seated on the floor from left to right: Jim Sullivan, Cecil Benge, Virgil "Ricky" Benge, Sammy Benge, James Benge, and the last is Jay Copenhaver. Seated behind them from left to right, Henry Benge holding Becky Benge, Hazel Benge holding Donald Benge, Martha Benge, Albert Benge is holding Joe Copenhaver, Sally Copenhaver holding Jeff Copenhaver, Judy Copenhaver, Serrie Copenhaver. Standing in the back from left to right: Virgil Benge, Mary Benge, Mary Katherine Benge, Carel (?) "Boob" Sullivan, Linda Sullivan, Martha Benge, Eva Sullivan, Mary Alice, Sam Benge, :Louise Benge, George Benge, John Copenhaver, and Nancy Benge Stone. 

Believed to be taken sometime between 1955-1957, around christmas at Albert and Martha's just west of Granville Wells school outside Jamestown, Indiana. 

From left to right: Henry Benge, Albert Benge and Alberts half brother Theo. 

To my knowledge, Albert is holding either Martha or Mary Benge.

We've Got Mail! (...and a couple updates)

There's less than two weeks until the family reunion, so if you have any old family photos that you would like posted, now would be the time to do it! I'm looking forward to getting some feedback on the website, and maybe getting some snapshots in the process.

These were sent to me by Rusty McCullough...

Chris and Mary Ellen McCullough, wearing "Baton Twirling" outfits 

crocheted by Grandma Hazel

Mary Ellen (holding "Tiny"), and Rusty McCullough

Hazel Benge

Almost There...

We're getting near that time, ladies and gentlemen. We are just a little under two months away from the 

Benge Family Reunion - 52 days, 14 hours, 30 minutes, and 15 seconds to be exact, as I write this.

At least that's what the new countdown ticker in the side-bar says.

Remember, there is a link to a map and directions underneath the countdown, just in case you have family coming in from out of state.

Looking forward to seeing you all there, and keep the pictures coming!

By the way, if you would like to send me census records, marriage certificates, death certificates, baby announcements, or anything of that nature, just send me a scanned picture (preferably in the ".jpg" format, but it doesn't have to be).

Straight From The Mail Box

 Yes! I finally received some photos from a family member who stopped by the website.

If you have sent photos and they have not been posted, i apologize. I was lucky to have found these- I found them by accident by cleaning out my spam folder. If you know somebody that has sent pictures, and they are wondering why they haven't showed up on the website, tell them to send them again. Thanks!

Also, special thanks to Rachel Stone for taking the time to send these to me.

Nancy (Benge) Stone- Easter 2010

 

Nancy (Benge) Stone and the family, Easter 2010 (contains Liib (nancys' daughter) 3 of Libbi's 4 kids (Justin, Rachel, Joe) some of the great-grand-kids or Nancy's and some of the "significant others"

 Nancy and Justin Stone at the family reunion 2009 

Nancy (Benge) Stone with her daughter, Libbi Parnell, and her son, Robert Stone, who is in the National Guard and currently in Afghanistan.