Robert F. Bender, 84, of Bluffton died at 3:10 p.m. Dec. 14, 2011 at his residence. He was born Sept. 24, 1927 in Wapakoneta to Frederick Ferdinand and Florence Elizabeth Lamley Bender. On Aug. 24, 1948 he married Jo Ann Brunn and she survives.
Robert and Jo Ann owned A-Z Portion Control Meats of Bluffton. He was a member of Bethel Church of Christ, Ada, and a former board member of the Lima Senior Citizens. He attended Lima Central High School and was a WWII Navy veteran.
Survivors also include four daughters, Linda Jo (Terry) Strahm of Bluffton, Lee Ann (Tom) Kagy of Bluffton, Lois Jean Bender of Lakeview, Leslie Marie Bender Barnes of Bluffton, 10 grandchildren, Jennifer (Mike) Picklesimer, Jessica Strahm, Sean (Jennifer) Kagy, Seth (Julie) Kagy, Elizabeth (Jeremy) Thornton, TJ Warren, Robert (Adrianne) Warren, Madison Barnes, Ellis Barnes and Olivia Barnes.
Also surviving are 10 great-grandchildren, Joshua Basinger, Jordin Basinger, Noah Strahm, Christian Kagy, Alexandra Kagy, Skylar Kagy, Greyson Kagy, Alexis Thornton, Zavier Thornton, Hutch Warren, a brother, Neal (Pat) Bender of Sarasota, Fla., Marjorie Crider of Lima, and Louise Baber of Dayton. He was preceded in death by his stepfather, J. Cliff Baber and a sister Minnie Ryan.
Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m. Monday at the Bethel Church of Christ, Ada. Rev. Harrison Underwood will officiate. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery, Bluffton.
Visitation will be from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Sunday at Chiles-Laman Funeral and Cremation Services, Bluffton. Memorial contributions may be made to the Wyandot County Humane Society. Online condolences may be expressed at www.chiles-lamanfh.com.
