Orville Russell Benton

Orville Russell Benton, age 93, died May 8, 2016, at Colonial Belle of Sealy. Orville was born at his family’s ranch near Wallis, Texas, September 18, 1922, to Russell and Mary “Mayme” Habermacher Benton. He attended Abilene Christian College, where he ran track, before serving in the U.S. Air Force as a dental technician from 1943 to 1946. Orville married Myrle Dee Grubbs in her parents’ home near Sealy August 8, 1949. They moved to Weatherford for their first year of marriage and then returned to Sealy, where he spent the remainder of his life working cattle and going to the coffee shop.

Affectionately called “Benton” by his wife, “Daddy” by his daughter and “Grandpa” by his grandchildren, the gentle, patient and generous, blue-eyed cowboy loved his family, horses, and bluegrass music. A fifth generation Texan, Orville is a descendant of Martin Allen, who came to Texas in 1821 with Stephen F. Austin’s “Old Three Hundred.”

He is survived by his wife, Myrle Benton of Sealy, his granddaughter, Lauren Flake and husband Travis of Buda, his grandson Scott Russell Stucky of Austin, his great-granddaughters Samantha and Charlotte Flake of Buda, and his sister Ethyleene Keel of Palacios. He is pre-deceased by his daughter, Dixie Stucky, and sister, Helen Grisham.

A graveside service will be held Tuesday, May 10 at 1 p.m. at Sealy Cemetery, Knesek Funeral Home at 768 4th St., Sealy, Texas 77474 in charge of services.www.knesekfuneralhome.com.