Jean Josephine Benson

Jean “Jo” Benson, 84, passed away Dec. 8, 2003, at Whidbey General Hospital in Coupeville. She was born Sept.15, 1919, in Horseshoe Run, W.V., to Camden and Ella May Winters. As a young girl she moved with her family from their farm to Terra Alta, W.V. and then later to Oakland, Md.

Jo was a graduate of Oakland High School. Her first marriage ended in divorce. In 1958 she married Milo E. Benson who was serving in the U.S. Navy in Indian Head, Md. They lived in various parts of the country until Milo’s retirement in Oak Harbor where they lived for the next 20 years.

During that period of time, they traveled extensively by RV throughout the United States and Canada. Her favorite hobby was crocheting and she dearly loved friends and family.

In March of 1995 she and her husband moved to Charles County, Md., but returned to Oak Harbor in December of 1998.

Jean is survived by her husband, Milo Benson of Oak Harbor; by two sons, Joseph Camden Alvey and Allen Douglas Alvey of Waldorf, Md.; one sister, Grace Full of Parkersburg, W.V.; and by six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her sisters, Hazel Jackson of Clendenen, W.V., Mabel Hathaway of Oakland, Md., and Eldean Lantz of Shinnston, W.V.

Visitation will be held at Burley Funeral Chapel Wednesday, Dec. 10, from 6 to 8 p.m. A graveside service will be held at Maple Leaf Cemetery on Thursday, Dec. 11, at 12:30 p.m. A funeral service will follow at 1 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, Oak Harbor, with Rev. David Lura officiating. A reception for family and friends follows at the church. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, P.O. Box 358220, Seattle, WA 98195-8220.

Funeral arrangements are under the care of Burley Funeral Chapel.