Richard Thomas Bender
KNOXVILLE - Richard Thomas Bender was known as a man of integrity throughout a life marked in service to others. To ask Richard for his opinion was to know you would receive an honest answer, whether you liked it or not.
Born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, to humble beginnings, Richard excelled on the playing field and in the classroom, paving the way for him to achieve success as an engineer and businessman. He received a full four-year scholarship to attend Vanderbilt University and join the Commodores football team.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and graduating cum laude from Vanderbilt, Richard received a National Science Foundation scholarship that supported his pursuit of a master’s degree in civil engineering at Michigan State University. Richard returned to Wisconsin for a brief span, working, marrying his wife Sandra, and raising his daughters Michele and Robyn. Vanderbilt football ties prompted Richard to relocate to Knoxville, and his son Thomas was born shortly after the family moved into Richard’s self-designed home in West Hills. Richard resided at the same address for the rest of his life. After initially working for and with others, Richard established his own engineering firm in Bearden: Bender & Associates. He was known throughout the community for his uncompromisingly high standards and (sometimes brutal) honesty. Faced with daunting problems with their homes, offices, or other structures, people from all over East Tennessee would seek Richard’s engineering advice, which frequently came delivered with a sly remark or life advice gratis. Bender & Associates contributed to the structural integrity of innumerable schools, office buildings, restaurants, entertainment venues, commercial buildings, and homes in Knoxville and beyond. Every client, whether an industry-leading corporation or an elderly neighbor, benefitted from Richard’s insights. Recognized for his expertise, Richard traveled across the United States to provide peer reviews to other civil engineering firms. Richard’s business legacy will live on through the engineering firm that bears his name, now operated by Richard’s longtime colleagues and friends. Richard attended Lutheran churches throughout his life, and he was a longtime member of St. John’s Lutheran Church on Broadway in Knoxville. He also previously attended and counted as friends members of Messiah Lutheran and Peace Lutheran Churches in Knoxville.
Richard was a lifelong athlete who enjoyed running, hiking, and cycling. Richard could often be seen running through Bearden and Sequoyah Hills during his lunch hour, joined by his coworkers, friends, and occasionally his children. He ran the first Expo 10,000 in 1978, and he participated in every race annually for the next 35 years. He joined innumerable other Knoxville Track Club events as well. Richard was never more content than when he was swiftly traversing a hiking trail, including those in the Smokies, the Rockies, and at various state and national parks stretching from Maine to California. After giving up running in his later years, Richard became an avid cyclist and was a regular attendee of pre-dawn spin class sessions at the West Side YMCA, where he had many friends.
Benefitting from his own educational opportunities, Richard ensured that each of his children received the motivation and support to complete their own bachelors and graduate degrees in social work (Michele), law (Robyn), and medicine (Thomas). He was a generous contributor to Vanderbilt University’s scholarship fund as well as to the Friends of Literacy. Surrounded by family, Richard passed away peacefully at home on August 11, 2023, after succumbing to the cumulative effects of Lewy Body Dementia. He was preceded in death by his wife Sandra Hayward Bender, who passed away on April 8, 2021. He is survived by his sister Judy Flanders of Fond du Lac, WI, his brother Rob Bender of South Beloit, IL, his brother James Bender of Bradenton, FL, his daughter Michele Schara Hearn of Carabelle, FL, his daughter Robyn Renee Bender of Louisville, KY, his son Thomas John Bender of Midland, MI, his granddaughter Beatrice Hearn Prutsman of Knoxville, his granddaughter Isabella Grace Hearn of Knoxville, his grandson Russell Woods Bender of Midland, MI, and his great granddaughter Eloise Lorraine Prutsman of Knoxville, TN.
The family will hold a celebration of life on September 17 at 4:00 p.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 544 N Broadway, Knoxville, TN. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes contributions made in honor of Richard to Vanderbilt University (https://giving.vanderbilt.edu/ways-to-give), the Friends of Literacy (http://friendsofliteracy.org/ways-to-support), or the Lewy Body Dementia Association (https://www.lbda.org/donate/). Online condolences may be expressed at www.rosefuneraltn.com