Airman First Class Austin Harper Gates Benson, 19, of Hellertown, Penn., died May 3, 2010, at KBCC/ FOB Torkham, Khyber, Afghanistan.

He was born in Hunterdon County, N.J., on June 17, 1990. His mother is Joie M. Gates with whom he resided and her partner Christopher F. Verone of Warminster. His father is Frederick J. Boenig and his partner Janice E. Johnson of Emmaus and Frederick’s former wife, Victoria V. Boenig of Hellertown.

He had been attached to the 54th Combat Communications Squadron at the U.S. Robins Air Force Base, Ga. Austin is a 2008 graduate of Saucon Valley High School.

In addition to his loving parents and extended families he is survived by a half brother, Search D. Willson of Hellertown; maternal grandparents, Milo E. Benson, LCDR, USN Ret., and his wife Lois of Oak Harbor; paternal grandmother Elaine L. Blair of Flemington; and innumerable friends.

Family and friends are invited to an informal gathering to celebrate his life from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 14, at the Heintzelman Funeral Home, Inc. 326 Main Street, Hellertown. The interment June 4 will be private at Arlington National Cemetery, Fort Myer, Va., with full military honors. Online expressions of sympathy can be recorded at www.heintzelmancares.com.

The Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, North Cascades Chapter 5, will honor Austin with a Bell Ceremony on May 18 in Mount Vernon.

Please omit flowers; a Memorial Scholarship is being established in Austin’s name at the Saucon Valley School District. Please make checks payable to SVSD care of the Heintzelman Funeral Home, 326 Main Street, Hellertown, PA 18055.