Valley Home, CA
Edwin “Gene” Benedix passed away peacefully December 25, 2020 at home after a lengthy illness. He was born to Edwin (Doc) and Winifred (Freddie) Benedix on April 9, 1930 in Modesto and lived his entire life in the Valley Home area. He graduated from Oakdale High School in 1948, was drafted by the U.S. Army, and served in the Korean war where he was wounded earning him the Purple Heart. After being discharged he began farming rice with his younger brother Jerry which continued for 40 years.
In 1966 he married Billie Vierra and they had two children. He enjoyed fly fishing in the Sierra most of his life and tied his own flies. When the hills became too steep, he took up an old hobby of archery, and made his own arrows and built 51 recurve bows. He also enjoyed vegetable and fruit tree gardening, reading, the daily crossword puzzle, traveling, Oakdale High School football, and the 49ers.
The most important things to him were his family and his faith. He was a lifelong member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Valley Home where he served as treasurer for 55 years.
Gene leaves behind his wife Billie after 54 years of marriage, his son Tim Benedix and daughter-in-law Karen and grandsons Will and Joel, daughter Barbara Villars and son-in-law Ken and grandchildren Jack and Darla. He is also survived by his brother Jerry, and was preceded in death by his parents.
The family would like to extend special thanks to Bernadette Nunes for her assistance in caregiving during the final year of his life.
A graveside service will be held Thursday, January 7 at 11 a.m. at Burwood Cemetery on River Road.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donation be made to Saints John and Luke Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 2151, Oakdale, CA 95361 or Community Hospice, 4368 Spyres Way, Modesto, CA 95356.
The Oakdale (Calif.) Leader
The Riverbank (Calif.) News
Jan. 6, 2021
Edwin “Gene” Benedix passed away peacefully December 25, 2020 at home after a lengthy illness. He was born to Edwin (Doc) and Winifred (Freddie) Benedix on April 9, 1930 in Modesto and lived his entire life in the Valley Home area. He graduated from Oakdale High School in 1948, was drafted by the U.S. Army, and served in the Korean war where he was wounded earning him the Purple Heart. After being discharged he began farming rice with his younger brother Jerry which continued for 40 years.
In 1966 he married Billie Vierra and they had two children. He enjoyed fly fishing in the Sierra most of his life and tied his own flies. When the hills became too steep, he took up an old hobby of archery, and made his own arrows and built 51 recurve bows. He also enjoyed vegetable and fruit tree gardening, reading, the daily crossword puzzle, traveling, Oakdale High School football, and the 49ers.
The most important things to him were his family and his faith. He was a lifelong member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Valley Home where he served as treasurer for 55 years.
Gene leaves behind his wife Billie after 54 years of marriage, his son Tim Benedix and daughter-in-law Karen and grandsons Will and Joel, daughter Barbara Villars and son-in-law Ken and grandchildren Jack and Darla. He is also survived by his brother Jerry, and was preceded in death by his parents.
The family would like to extend special thanks to Bernadette Nunes for her assistance in caregiving during the final year of his life.
A graveside service will be held Thursday, January 7 at 11 a.m. at Burwood Cemetery on River Road.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donation be made to Saints John and Luke Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 2151, Oakdale, CA 95361 or Community Hospice, 4368 Spyres Way, Modesto, CA 95356.
The Oakdale (Calif.) Leader
The Riverbank (Calif.) News
Jan. 6, 2021
