May 12, 2008  

CLAYTON, N.Y.  —  William E. Bender, 82, Merrick St., died Sunday morning, May 11, at the V. A. Medical Center, Syracuse, where he had been a patient since May 1, after being transferred from Samaritan Medical Center, Watertown.

Calling hours will be held 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, May 14, at Cummings Funeral Service, Inc., 320 John St., Clayton. The funeral service will be held 1 p.m. Thursday, May 15, at the Clayton United Methodist Church with Pastor Donald Briant officiating. Burial with military honors provided by the members of the Clayton American Legion Colon Couch Post 821 will be in Clayton Cemetery.

Donations may be made in his name to the Clayton Volunteer Fire Dept., Graves St., Clayton, NY 13624.

Born Dec. 4, 1925, in Clayton, son of Earnest W. and Eva Mae Youngs Bender, he graduated from Clayton Central School in June 1944.

He entered the Army on Aug. 7, 1944, and served in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany. He served overseas with the 302nd Infantry Regiment 94th Division as a heavy machine gunner. He was wounded in action in Germany on March 6, 1945 and was honorably discharged on February 28, 1946. He received the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Good Conduct Medal, the African Middle Eastern Theatre Ribbon with one bronze star, the World War II Victory Medal, and the American Theatre Ribbon.

He went back in the Army in October 1950 and served an a M. P. in the 808th M. P. Company, Pine Camp, N.Y. He was honorably discharged as a Corporal on May 14, 1952.

Mr. Bender went to work in 1954 for the New York State Department of Public Works, now state Department of Transportation. He retired as a senior engineering technician in 1981 after 29 years of service, and he had also been a photographer for the D. O. T.

In December 1943, he joined the Clayton Volunteer Fire Dept., and served as 2nd assistant, 1st assistant, chief, 1st vice president, and president of the Fire Dept. He was a life member of the NNY V. F. A., past president of the Jefferson Co. Fire Chief and Fire Fighters Assn., past president of the NNY Parade and Drill Team Captains Assn., member of the F. A. S. N. Y., the State Assn. of Fire Chiefs, the N. Y. S. Fire Police Assn, the Jefferson Co. Fire Police Assn, the NNY Fireman's Assn., the S. P. A. A. M. F. A. A., the F. A. M. B. A., and the 1000 Island Hose Haulers. He was a 65 year member of the Clayton Fire Dept. and past Deputy Fire Coordinator for 21 years.

He was a life and 65 year member of the American Legion Colon Couch Post 821. He was a life member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the Disabled American Veterans Assn., the V. F. W., and of the 94th Division. He was past Noble Grand on the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Mr. Bender was an instructor and instructor trainer for the American Red Cross in standard and advanced first aid and C. P. R. for 40 years, and was an E. M. T. for 21 years.

He was an amateur photographer, model builder, and collector of fire memorabilia, including fire equipment models, books, plates, and anything pertaining to fires.

Surviving are a son and his wife, Dannie L. and Lynn Bender; a daughter, Susan M. Murray, all of Ballston Spa; three grandchildren, Michael W. Murray, Danielle Bender, and Sara Bender; a sister and her husband, Ernestine and Theodore Beebe, Redwood; and his nieces, nephews, and cousins.

His brother, Robert L. Bender, was declared missing in action in Korea in 1951, and his brother, Charles R. Bender, died Dec. 13, 2006.

Obituary provided by Cummings Funeral Service and Newzjunky.com, Watertown, N.Y.