Roll Call Tribute

Published in Austin American-Statesman on Dec. 14, 2008

Dr. We Lindy Benson
Dr. We Lindy Benson Dr. We Lindy Benson passed this earth on December 5, 2008. He was the dear and beloved father of Kate Benson, Doug Benson and his wife Lee Benson, and Kelley Benson. He was the beloved saba to Rachel Benson and Garrett Benson, former husband of Patricia Elmore Benson, now Pat Dunlap and friend to her and her husband John Dunlap, brother-in-law to Chuck and Phyllis Elmore, Laura Williams, Maxine Williams, and to Joan Benson, and uncle to their children. For the past several years, Lindy was the loving partner of Marilyn Van Petten, and dear friend of Marilyn's family, Deb Winters and Ed Moya, Cindy Wilkinson and her daughter Taylor and partner Stan Holley, and Ed Van Petten. Lindy will be remembered and missed by many around Texas, especially in Amarillo, where he practiced optometry for many years. Lindy also helped organize the first ACLU in Amarillo, and helped to build the Unitarian Fellowship in Amarillo. Lindy grew up in Borger, Texas, where his father, Robert "Doc" Benson was an optometrist to the local townspeople, who often paid him with chickens and goats. Lindy was named after Lindbergh and his plane! Lindy attended and graduated from Borger High School, where he and Patsy Elmore met and began dating. Lindy was a track star and Patsy was a cheerleader. Unorthodox from a very young age, Lindy attended Texas A & M in the Corp of Cadets program, while aspiring to be a theology student. Lindy ultimately decided to follow in his father's footsteps and attended Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee. Lindy was a member of the 7th Calvary, where he was stationed in Japan during the allied occupation, where he served as personal body guard to the then child, Emperor Akihito, (and was a tiny bit disappointed that he didn't get a personal invitation to the emperor's inauguration in 1989). He also served in the 142nd National Guard. Besides being an optometrist in Amarillo for many years, Lindy was a colorful and charismatic character around Amarillo. He was a practicing Buddhist, and avid runner, and he was an early supporter of the Amarillo symphony. In 1998, he moved to Dallas, Texas, and was a close and supportive saba for his two grandchildren Rachel and Garrett. He also spent quite a bit of time in El Paso, while his mother Marguerite was still living, so that he could be close to her in her final years. In 2002, Lindy moved back to Amarillo to be with his partner, Marilyn Van Petten, where he lovingly stayed until his passing. Lindy's last few months were sometimes spent at the Ussery-Roan Texas State Veteran's home, where he received excellent and loving care from the staff. Lindy now joins his brother and close friend, Robert Benson, and his mother, Marguerite, who was his lifelong best friend. Lindy will be cremated, and a celebration of his life will be held January 10, 2009, in Amarillo. If you would like to be a part of the celebration, please call Kate at 512-423-5744, or email her at katebennybenson@yahoo.com, for more information. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made in Lindy's name to the Crown of Texas Hospice Foundation, c/o Hospice of the Southwest, 1301 S. Coulter Road, Ste. 404, Amarillo, TX 79106 (www.swhospice.com).
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Amarillo Globe-News, Dec. 14, 2008 [no photo]

Dr. We Lindy Benson

Dr. We Lindy Benson passed from this earth on Dec. 5, 2008, at the Ussery-Roan Texas State Veterans Home in Amarillo. He was the dear beloved father of Kate Benson, Doug Benson and wife Lee Benson and Kelley Benson. He was the beloved "saba" (grandfather) to Rachel Benson and Garrett Benson; former husband of Patricia Elmore Benson, now Pat Dunlap, and friend to her and her husband, John Dunlap; brother-in-law to Chuck and Phyllis Elmore, Laura Williams, Maxine Williams and to Joan Benson; and uncle to their children. For the past several years, Lindy was the loving partner of Marilyn Van Petten, and dear friend of Marilyn's family, Deb Winters and Ed Moya, Cindy Wilkinson and daughter Taylor, Stan Holley and Ed Van Petten.

Lindy will be remembered and missed by many around Texas, especially in Amarillo, where he practiced optometry for many years. He helped organize the local ACLU chapter in Amarillo and also helped build the Unitarian Fellowship there. Lindy grew up in Borger, where his father, Robert "Doc" Benson was an optometrist to the local townspeople, who often paid him with chickens and goats. Lindy graduated from Borger High School, where he met Patsy Elmore and they began dating. He was a track star and Patsy was a cheerleader.

Unorthodox from a very young age, Lindy attended Texas A&M University in the Corps of Cadets program, while aspiring to be a theology student. He ultimately decided to follow in his father's footsteps and attended Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tenn. Lindy was a member of the 7th Cavalry, and was stationed in Japan during the Allied occupation. He served as personal body guard to the then child, Emperor Akihito, (and was a tiny bit disappointed that he didn't get a personal invitation to his inauguration in 1989). He also served in the 142nd National Guard. Besides being an optometrist, Lindy was a colorful and charismatic character around Amarillo. He was a practicing Buddhist, an avid runner and an early supporter of the Amarillo Symphony Guild.

Lindy spent quite a bit of time in El Paso, while his mother, Marguerite Story, was still living, so that he could be close to her in her final years. In 1998, he moved to Dallas and was a close and supportive saba for his two grandchildren. In 2002, Lindy moved back to Amarillo to be with his partner, Marilyn Van Petten, where he stayed until his passing. Lindy's last few months were spent at the Ussery-Roan Texas State Veteran's Home, where he received excellent and loving care from the staff. Lindy now joins his brother and close friend, Robert Benson, and his mother, Marguerite, who was his lifelong best friend.

Lindy will be cremated, and a celebration of his life will be held Jan. 10, 2009, in Amarillo. If you would like to be a part of the celebration, please call Kate at 512-423-5744, or e-mail her at katebennybenson@yahoo.com for more information. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made in his name to the Crown of Texas Hospice Foundation, Hospice Care of the Southwest, No. 3 Care Circle, Amarillo, TX 79124, www.swhospice.com/memorialsdonations/.