George P. Benua

WESTERVILLE - Born February 23, 1944, George Philip Benua passed on from this life on January 26, 2023. George was a unique soul who loved his family deeply. He cherished the natural world around him and was a faithful steward of his land and its wildlife. He was a generous man who believed in giving to others, often anonymously. He loved his country and served in the Ohio Air National Guard, spending time in Korea during the Pueblo Incident. He and his first wife, Beverly, raised golden retrievers and he loved being out in the field with the dogs. George had a lifelong passion for cars and could often be found puttering in his garage. He had a long standing love for Sanibel Island, where he had spent time every year since 1968, and where he met most mornings with the “Sanibel Think Tank,” a group of men who claimed that they could talk about everything and solve nothing. He valued those mornings and relationships. George spent the first years of his career as a programmer with the state of Ohio, Jeffrey Mining and Scotts, and ended his career at Oasis, the family water cooler business. He was active in Rotary International for many years and especially valued his time spent in Brazil on behalf of Rotary and Operation Smile. He was a long time member of the Westerville Community United Church of Christ. George was preceded in death by his parents Albert Ray and Cecile Rice Benua, his younger brother John Benua, his three older half-brothers Louis, Richard, and Tom Benua, and by his first wife Beverly Benua. He is survived by his wife Marilyn Holcomb Benua, his daughter Catherine Benua, his son Philip Benua (Pamela), his stepdaughters Colleen Holcomb (Matt Burt) and Katie Holcomb Robinson (David), and his grandson Dylan Hickey. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews, of whom he thought the world. Family will receive friends on Friday, February 3, 2023 from 4pm to 7pm at Schoedinger Funeral and Cremation Service Worthington, 6699 N. High Street, Worthington. Memorial Service will be on Saturday, February 4, 2023 at 11am at the Westerville Community United Church of Christ, 770 County Line Road, Westerville. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in memory of George to Heifer International, Samaritan’s Purse, or Lifeline of Ohio. Please visit www.schoedinger.com to leave memories and condolences for George’s family.