Albert E. "Gene" Benard

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Albert E. "Gene" Benard, 87, of Findlay and formerly of North Baltimore, died at 8:55 a.m.,
Friday, May 23, 2014, in Findlay. He was born on August 18, 1926, in Van Buren to the late Lester A. and
Pearl Marie (Nelson) Benard. He graduated from North Baltimore High School in 1944 and received his
draft notice on his 18th birthday. He was proud to be a member of the "8th and 40", 40 men in
the 8th Armored Division active in France, Germany, and the Battle of the Bulge. Upon discharge he
married Leona Mae Bobb on March 28, 1948, and she survives.
He began work at San-A-Pur Dairy delivering milk with a horse drawn wagon. In 1954, Gene and Leona became
proprietors of Benard’s Floor Covering in North Baltimore. Gene had a reputation for doing exacting
work. He became a postal employee in 1960. During this time he remodeled numerous homes in North
Baltimore, including moving one of them down the street and building a family home.
Gene and Leona then moved to Findlay in 1982, maintaining a winter home in Bradenton, FL. Gene was well
known for his ready humor and companion dog. Gene was a former North Baltimore volunteer Fireman and a
life member of the North Baltimore American Legion Post 539.
Gene is survived by his daughters: Dr. Anne (Robert) Hewitt of Flemington, N.J. and Beth (James Spitler)
Benard of Rome, NY; his beloved granddaughter, Christine (Dan) Belin of Lexington, MA; and his
great-grandsons: Peter and Tommy Belin. He was preceded in death by his brother, Lowell and his sister,
Mary.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, May 28, 2014, at St. Luke’s Evangelical Lutheran
Church, North Baltimore, with Reverend Ralph Mineo officiating. Burial will be in New Maplewood
Cemetery, North Baltimore, where full military rites will be conducted by the North Baltimore American
Legion Post 539. Visitation will be held from 5:00-8:00 p.m., Tuesday, at SMITH-CRATES FUNERAL HOME,
North Baltimore. Memorial contributions may be made the North Baltimore Volunteer Fire Department.
Online condolences may be made at www.coldrencrates.com.
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