James P. Benbow

James Prestren Benbow, 90, of Knoxville, died at 12:25 a.m. Tuesday, June 18, 2019 at home.  Jim was born May 30, 1929 in Chicago, the son of James Prestren and Flavia Mary (Leef) Benbow.  Jim married Lorraine “Muff” Poole.  Together they had five children.  Later Jim married Ruth Bond on January 13, 1980 in Reno, NV.  She preceded him in death on November 15, 2017.  Jim is survived by three sons, James P. (Brenda) Benbow, Iron Mountain, MI, Stephen (Elizabeth) Benbow and Brian (Orinda) Benbow, Galesburg; as well as two daughters, Deborah (Michael) DeForest, Galesburg and Barbara (Richard) Powell, Tulare, CA; and one sister, Joyce Thompson of Galesburg.  Jim is also survived by ten grandchildren, Eric Henderson, Ann (Andrew) Boyden, R.J. (Jennifer) Mitchell, Amanda Powell, Rick Powell, Pres (Reyna) Benbow, Cole and Luke Benbow, Heidi and Noah Benbow; and eight great grandchildren.  Along with his wife, Jim was preceded in death by his parents. Jim received his BS in Science and Mechanical engineering from Notre Dame.  A United States Navy Veteran, Jim was stationed in Korea during the Korean Conflict and served in the Naval Reserves for 20 years, retiring in 1989 as a Lt. Commander.  Jim began working at Benbow Plumbing and Heating in Galesburg in 1955, the business his father started in 1932, and was still working on a daily basis.  Jim was a member of Corpus Christi Catholic Church.  He was a life member of J.O. Hunt Knights of Columbus Council 556, life member of the Mechanical Contractors Association, and the Elks Lodge 894.  Jim served as Spoon Valley Lake District President for 10 years, President of IMSCA (Illinois Mechanical Specialty Contractors of America) for 3 years, served as president for 2 years of the Galesburg Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors and Rock River Plumbing and Heating Contractors.  Jim was also on the board of director’s for Rock River Plumbing Contractor’s Association and the Bank of Galesburg.  He served as chairman of the code review committee for the City of Galesburg for many years.  As a veteran, Jim was a proud member of Ralph M. Noble American Legion Post #285 and VFW Post #2257. Visitation will be 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, June 27, 2019 at Watson Thomas Funeral Home and Crematory, Galesburg, with the rosary to be prayed at 7 p.m.  Funeral Mass will be 10 a.m. Friday, June 28, 2019 at Corpus Christi Catholic Church.  Rev. William T. Miller will officiate.  Burial will follow in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Galesburg.  Military rites will be conducted by VFW/Legion/AmVets Honor Guard. Memorials may be made to Corpus Christi Catholic Church or to Costa Catholic Academy.