WILLIAM FRANK BENDER

William Frank Bender, 87, passed away September 14, 2019 at the Central Iowa VA Hospital in Des Moines. Services for Bill was Wednesday, September 18, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at the Missionary Baptist Church in Carlisle. A visitation was prior to the service at 9:00 a.m. Interment with military honors was after the service at Avon Cemetery.
Bill was born July 18, 1932 at Methodist Hospital in Des Moines, IA to Ray and Mary Ellen Bender. He was the youngest of three children. Some of his best childhood memories were fishing with his Grandpa Bender and hunting with his dad. Bill always remembered cultivating corn with horses, learning to harness a horse when he was 12 years old. He worked on a threshing crew at 15 and milked cows by hand. He attended Ward School through eighth grade and graduated from Carlisle High School in 1950. Bill spent two years in the Army followed by six years in the Reserves. He worked 38 years at Delavan Manufacturing in West Des Moines.
Bill married Joyce Bartholomew on March 6, 1954. Together they raised three children; Richard, Mark and Ellen. After his conversion in 1947 he was baptized at Grandview Park Baptist Church in Des Moines. For several years Bill served as Sunday school superintendent, deacon, trustee and building committee member at the Missionary Baptist Church in Carlisle. He was a member of the Carlisle American Legion for 27 years; many of those years were as commander. In retirement, Bill worked as a cook in Carlisle and Des Moines.
Bill is survived by his wife, Joyce; his three children, Richard (Karen), Mark (Jennifer) and Ellen (Dean) Warner; seven grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and sister Audrey Jenkins of Melcher-Dallas. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Mary Stuart, and his great-grandson, Dylan Barnell.
Memorials can be made in Bill’s name to the Missionary Baptist Church, the Carlisle American Legion or the Carlisle Alumni Association. Online condolences may be made at www.petersonfuneralservice.com.