John H. Bender

John H. "Jack" Bender (Age 84) Active in Lions Club, Grove Church, Decorated WW II Combat Veteran John H. "Jack" Bender, of Aberdeen, who retired from Aberdeen Proving Ground in 1976 as Chief of the Communications Skills Branch of the Army Ordinance Center & School, died on April 30, 2007 at the Perry Point Veterans Administration Hospital in Cecil County, MD. Born and raised in Harrisburg, P A, he was the son of the late Herman Monroe and Grace Maguire Bender and was a WW II combat veteran. He served as a Corporal in the 85 th Infantry "Custer Division" and the 337 th Infantry Division and saw action in Northern Africa and Italy. He was severely wounded on May 17, 1944 on the drive to liberate Rome and subsequently spent two and a half years in Army hospitals. He was awarded the Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman Badge, the Bronze Star, American Theater Ribbon, European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon, Victory Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. He was a 50 year member of the American Legion Post 128, Aberdeen. On October 15, 1944 he married the former Patricia String of Camp Hill. PA. After graduating from Elizabethtown College in 1952 with a B.S. degree in Education, he moved his family to Aberdeen to accept a position as Educational Specialist at the OC & S at APG where he taught officer instructor courses. Long active in the Aberdeen Lions Club, he received the Melvin Jones Fellow, which is the highest award for service in Lionism. In 2005 he was awarded 50 years of perfect attendance in the Aberdeen club. He served as Chair on various Lions Club committees and was elected the club's president in 1957-58. He was also President of the Roaring Lions and served in many other capacities at the district level, including Zone Chairman and Deputy District Governor. He was known as an excellent public speaker and inducted many new members and candidates into their respective offices in Lions clubs throughout District 22A. He is credited with starting the Aberdeen Lioness Auxiliary Club for women in 1964 which is now Chartered as the Aberdeen Lioness Lions. Mr. Bender was an active 54-year member of Grove Presbyterian Church having served on many committees as an Ordained Elder and Deacon, Trustee, head usher and the church's institutional representative for Boy Scout Troop 802. After retirement, he and his wife Pat enjoyed traveling, playing cards with friends, and visiting family members. Surviving are his loving wife of 62 years, Pat; older sister Sarah Elizabeth Hildebrand of Camp Hill, PA; younger brother Frank A. of Hickory, NC; sons John F. and his wife Ruth of Aberdeen; Thomas A. and his wife Joanne of Hampton, V A; and James M.and his wife Cheryl of Bel Air; and nine grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents he was predeceased by an older brother Robert M. Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Dave Wilson on Saturday, May 5, 2007 at 11:00 AM at Grove Presbyterian Church, 50 East Bel Air Avenue, Aberdeen. Internment will be in Grove Presbyterian Cemetery. The family will receive friends on May 4 from 2-4 and 7-9pm at the Tarring-Cargo Funeral Home. Pallbearers will be his grandchildren: Shawn and Shannon Bender, Melissa Barker, Jonathon Bender, and Jeremy and Jamie Bender. Contributions may be made to Grove Presbyterian Church CTV, 50 E. BelAir Ave., Aberdeen, MD 21001 or to the Aberdeen Lion Charities, P.O.Box 111, Aberdeen, MD 21001 Funeral Home: Tarring-Cargo Funeral Home 333 South Parke Street Aberdeen, MD US 21001