Obituary of Delbert "Doc" F. Benton

Delbert "Doc" F. Benton, 93, formerly of Calumet Park. He was the beloved husband of the late Genevieve nee Blume, who passed away January 28, 2009. Delbert is the loving father of Becky (late Terrence) Clemmons, Joyce (Michael) Gerdzos, Mary Kay (David) Winchell, Thomas (Victoria) Benton, Paul (Tara Sue) Benton and Kelly (Alan) Craig. He is the cherished grandfather of eighteen and the proud great grandfather of sixteen. "Doc" was the dear brother of the late Margaret Jobe, late Harold (late Isla) Benton, late Howard Benton, late Thomas (Betty) Benton, Bill (late Ellen) Benton, Jim (Bernice) Benton and the late Mary Ann Andrews.

Delbert moved from Missouri to the Chicago area in 1952. He was a resident of Calumet Park from 1955-2009, during those years, he was a faithful member of Seven Holy Founders Parish. Delbert was formerly employed by Hartigan Chevrolet, 81st & Racine and Heritage Cadillac in Lombard. He enjoyed nothing more than being with his family and friends. "Doc" loved to sing and also entertaining everyone with his beloved "Boomba", often times including his entire family in his performances!  

Visitation for Delbert will be held Friday, September 22, 2017 from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm. Chapel prayers will begin Saturday, 9:00 am at the Krueger Funeral Home, 13050 S. Greenwood Ave., Blue Island, then to Our Lady of The Ridge Church, 10820 Oxford Ave., Chicago Ridge, for mass at 10:00 am. Cremation will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital www.stjude.org, greatly appreciated.

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship, at my side,
spreads her white sails to the moving breeze and starts
for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength.
I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck
of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.

Then, someone at my side says, "There, she is gone." 

Gone where? 

Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast,
hull and spar as she was when she left my side.
And, she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.

Her diminished size is in me -- not in her.
And, just at the moment when someone says, "There, she is gone,"
there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices
ready to take up the glad shout, "Here she comes!" 

And that is dying...

                                                            Henry Van Dyke