Frank Martin Bender

Mr. Frank Martin Bender, 94, of Winston-Salem, passed away Sunday, April 20, 2014 at Forsyth Medical Center. He was born December 7, 1919 in the farming community of Thompson, OH in Geauga County to Benjamin and Pearl Bandelesky. Mr. Bender attended Thompson High School and graduated in 1938 in a class of twenty graduates. He found employment at a defense factory in Cleveland, OH until he joined the Army-Air Force in September of 1942. He was assigned to the Seymour Johnson Air Base as an instructor in airplane mechanics. There he met his lovely wife and true southern bell of Clayton, NC. In 1944, he graduated as a flight engineer and served in the South Pacific Theater flying 24 combat missions, receiving an Air Medal and two Oak Leaf Clusters and one Bronze Battle Star. He was discharged in December of 1945. Mr. Bender was co-owner of Benders-Reynolda Beauty Shoppe with his wife, Mary Bender. In 1951, he joined the Winston-Salem Fire Department. He always said his most fulfilling part of his life was in having a hand in hiring many firemen who became true firefighters to serve the community of Winston-Salem. He retired in 1982 after 32 years of service. During his retirement he spent time on the love of his life, to his home, his garden, fishing, his church and all of his grandchildren and his beloved neighborhood. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Rachel Tutor Bender; a daughter, Jackie Galyean; six siblings; a nephew and a true friend, Francis Gilbert. Surviving are his two daughters, Treasure A. Faircloth (Roger) and Emogene ""Jean"" White (David); one sister, Eleanor Landphair; ten grandchildren, Mitch Faircloth, Todd Faircloth, Marilee F. Runge, Denise Schaller, Diane Box, Sandy Stewart, Joey White, Lisa Sweeney, Kevin Smith and Jeff Smith; fifteen great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews and a special thanks to his neighbor, Carol Bledsoe. A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 29, 2014 at Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel. Interment will follow in Salem Moravian Graveyard. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. The Family would like to thank the Hospice staff, the Winston-Salem Fire Department, Forsyth County EMS and the emergency room and Palliative Care Unit at Forsyth Medical Center.

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