Josephine Benham

Josephine Benham, 81, of Lorena passed away on Friday, July 7, 2006 at her home.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 11, at the Hewitt Church of Christ, 816 S. First Street, with Chaplain Brian Pendleton officiating, assisted by Mr. Larry Eoff. Burial will follow in the Oakwood Cemetery of Waco.

There will be no formal visitation hours, but friends are invited to come by the OakCrest Funeral Home, 4520 Bosque, on Monday from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. to sign the family guestbook.

Josephine Benham was born at home on April 30, 1925 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She was the first born child of Emory and Frankie Oakes. Josephine graduated from Taloga High School in 1942 and attended college at Oklahoma A&M in Stillwater.

After graduating in 1946 with a degree in Home Economics, Josephine worked as an assistant Home Demonstration Agent in El Reno, Okla. She met Raymond Benham while a college student and married him on December 5, 1947. They raised their family of five children primarily in Levelland, Texas.

An excellent cook and superb seamstress, the full-time mom also volunteered as a Girl Scout and Cub Scout leader, Sunday school teacher, and classroom mom.

After her children left home, Josephine worked as a substitute school teacher and for the Lubbock Home Health Agency. Josephine, Ray and their oldest daughter Kaye moved to Slaton in 1993 and then to Lorena in 1997.

She was a lifelong member of the Church of Christ and most recently a member of the Hewitt Church of Christ.

Josephine was deeply devoted to her family. A devout Christian women, she raised her children by her deeply held Christian values. She encouraged her children to always strive for the best in their lives and taught them they could achieve anything through hard work and perseverance.

She modeled for her family unconditional love, a strong work ethic and a fierce commitment to responsibilities as she faithfully cared for her disabled daughter for 56 years.

Josephine was preceded in death by her father Emory Alonzo Oakes, her mother Frankie Bess Oakes, her daughter Sharon Kaye Benham, a brother Max David Oakes and a grandson Andrew Landon Smith.

She is survived by her devoted husband of 58 years, Raymond R. Benham; her daughter Janice Lytle and husband Kent and children Michelle, Chad and Jeremy; her three sons and families Dr. Dale Benham his wife Susan of Lincoln, Nebraska and their children Erin and Sara; Drs. Jerry and Melisa Benham of Lorena and their children Jason and Matthew; Dr. Charles Benham and his wife Rhonda of San Angelo and their children Michael, Jessica and Kaitlan.

She is further survived by her brother Charles Robert Oakes and his wife Doris of Seiling, Oklahoma and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Tim Martindale, Dr. Carlos Encarnacion and Providence Hospice for the care they gave to Josephine and to her recently deceased daughter Kaye. They provided compassionate care and assistance to Josephine, Kaye and our family.

We would also like to extend our thanks and gratitude for the many family members and friends whose thoughts and prayers were with us during her time of illness.

Memorial donations may be made to Providence Hospice, 4830 Lakewood Drive, Suite 5, Waco, Texas 76710.