Durward Sherman Benham, Sr., of Chandler, Arizona, passed away on February 13, 2015. Durward was born October 28, 1922 in Crowell, Texas to parents George and Mina Benham. Durward was the second oldest of four children with two sisters and one brother. In March 1941, after graduating from Bowie High School, he passed the entrance examination to enter Airplane Mechanics School at Duncan Field in San Antonio, Texas. He started his Civil Service Career with the USAF testing engines in June 1941 at Kelly Field as a trainee in aircraft maintenance and repair. In January 1942, he transferred to Albrook Field in the Panama Canal Zone testing aircraft engines until he resigned to enlist in the Navy and support the WWII effort. Prior to reporting for duty he married his long-time sweetheart, Mary Elizabeth Whitman on March 6, 1944 in Vernon, Texas. In boot camp, he proved himself to be an outstanding runner and marksman earning several awards in competitive events representing his unit. As a result he was exempt from undesirable work duties like KP. Durward attended Navy Diesel Mechanic School before embarking for 10 months of sea duty in the Philippines. After his discharge from the Navy, Mary and Durward moved to San Antonio, Texas and Durward returned to Kelly Field where he was assigned to engine testing. They had two children, Durward, Jr. and Elizabeth Ann. Durward advanced from aircraft engine mechanic to foreman over engine testing before accepting a position in the Technical Services Division in 1955. In his new assignment as Aircraft Jet Engine Specialist, he was responsible for the Century Series Fighter Jets, the B-47 and B-52 strategic bombers, the U-2 spy plane, and the first jet-powered Air Force One. In 1959, Durward was promoted to the Material Management Division where he was responsible for overhaul and maintenance of all USAF aircraft engines. Durward received numerous commendations during his 23 years of combined military and civilian service. After retiring in April 1964, the family moved to Lovington, New Mexico where he began farming and raising cattle. Following Durward’s retirement from farming, he and Mary moved to Mesa, Arizona in June 1987. Mary preceded Durward in death in 1997 after 54 years of marriage. He resided at Sunrise of Chandler near Durward Jr. and family for his last few years.
Survivors include son, Durward Benham Jr. and his wife Barbara; daughter, Elizabeth Benham Stewart and her husband John; brother, Milton Benham and his wife Rene; sister, Dorothy Chisum and her husband Jack; and grandchildren, Christine Benham Schwindt and her husband Geoffrey and Durward Benham III.
Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, February 24, 2015, at 10:00 am with viewing beginning at 9:00 am at:
Mountain View Funeral Home & Cemetery
7900 East Main Street
Mesa, AZ 85207
Contributions can be made in his memory to the Arizona Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alzaz.org.