JOHN S. BENSON, SR.

John Schuler McKinney Benson, Sr., 90 of El Dorado passed away Friday, Jan. 12, 2018, in Little Rock. He was born on Feb. 20, 1927, to Ralph N. and Carrie S. Benson in El Dorado.

He attended El Dorado public schools and graduated from Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, Georgia. He was appointed and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland in 1949. After graduation he served active duty in the Korean War on a mine sweeper. Before leaving the service he obtained the rank of Lieutenant.

John Schuler returned to El Dorado and in 1950, started a long career at Ritchie Grocer Company. He became President and Chairman of the Board before retiring in 2013, after 63 years of service to the company.

As an active member of the community he served on a number of civic organizations. He served as President of the El Dorado Boys Club, Chairman of the Union District of the De Soto Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, Chairman of the Salvation Army Advisory Board, President of the Rotary Club, Director and Vice President of the Union County American Red Cross, Chairman of the Auditorium Commission, Director of the Chamber of Commerce and Justice of the Peace.

His favorite pastime activities included duck hunting, music, reading, travel, snow skiing, tennis, horses and his “farm” where he spent many hours raising ducks, geese and swans. He always had a work project going and those who ventured down to the farm, whether family or friends, were soon put to work.

He was a member of First Presbyterian Church since 1927.

Preceding him in death are his parents; three sisters, Mary Eleanor Buckley, Helen Lee Cox, Caroline Calder; and a son, Ralph Lee Benson.

Survivors are three sons, John Schuler McKinney Benson, Jr. (Andrea), Stone Schuler Benson, and William Lee Benson, all of El Dorado. Three grandchildren, John Schuler McKinney Benson III (Celeste) of Columbia, South Carolina, Mary Eleanor Gathright (Clint) of El Dorado, and William Garrett Benson of Little Rock, and two great grandchildren, Eleanor Kathryn Larson and Isaac Shackleford Larson of El Dorado, and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held from 5 until 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018, at Young’s Funeral Directors. A Memorial Service will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2018 in the sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church with Mike Dumas officiating. A private family interment will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2018 under the direction of Young’s.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington D.C., 20090-6011.

An online guest registry will be available at www.youngsfuneralhome.com.

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