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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Family and friends will long cherish their memories |
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of Donald Lewis Benton of El Paso, who passed away on July 18, 2017, |
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at the age of 80; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Freida Ivey and Lewis Benton, Donald |
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Benton was born on December 29, 1936, and he was raised by his |
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grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Ivey, in Fabens; he graduated from |
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New Mexico Military Institute before continuing his education at |
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Texas Tech University and Sul Ross State University, where he |
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earned his bachelor of science and master of engineering degrees; |
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he completed a second master's degree at Sam Houston State |
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University, and he answered his nation's call to duty as a member of |
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the United States Army; during his two years of military service, he |
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was assigned to work in bioacoustic research at the Walter Reed Army |
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Medical Center in Washington, D.C.; and |
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WHEREAS, After returning to civilian life, Mr. Benton worked |
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as a teacher and coach in Fort Hancock, Tornillo, Socorro, and |
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Clint, and he was admired by his students for his enthusiasm and |
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sense of humor; and |
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WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Mr. Benton enjoyed the love |
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and support of his wife, Betty, and their treasured family, which |
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included his three daughters, Penny, Brenda, and Wray, and his four |
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stepchildren, Shawndi, Stacy, Shelly, and Scott; his life was |
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further enriched by his nine grandchildren and two |
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great-grandchildren; in his leisure hours, he was fond of fishing, |
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hunting, and spending time at his lake house at Elephant Butte; a |
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member of the Masons for more than five decades, he held the title |
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of Worshipful Master at his local lodge from 2006 to 2009 and also |
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belonged to the Grand Scottish Rite and the Grand Lodge of Texas; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Donald Benton led a full and generous life, and |
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although he will be greatly missed, he will always be remembered |
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with deep affection by those who had the good fortune to know him; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of |
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Donald Lewis Benton and extend sincere sympathy to the members of |
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his family: to his wife, Betty Benton; to his daughters, Penny |
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Hilliard and her husband, Michael, Brenda Prestangen and her |
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husband, Kyle, and Wray Jean Chavez and her husband, Adrian; to his |
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stepchildren, Shawndi Hickman and her husband, Grant, Stacy Smith |
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and her husband, Johnny, Shelly Hurley and her husband, Jared, and |
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Scott Smith; to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren; to his |
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brothers, Rodger Benton and Leonard Benton; and to his other |
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relatives and friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Donald |
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Benton. |