Gilbert S. "Si" Benson

Gilbert Silas "Si" Benson, 90, of Reisterstown, died Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012, at Carroll Lutheran Village in Westminster.

Born Aug. 11, 1921, in Boring, he was the son of the late Wilbur Markland Benson and Marie King Benson. He was the husband of Jane Sanders Benson, his wife of 64 years.

He graduated from Franklin High School in 1940 and attended North Carolina State University, becoming a professional civil engineer and landscape architect. In 1942, working in the chemistry lab at Rustless Iron and Steel Corporation, he helped the company win the Army-Navy E Award for "Production of Materiel Vital to the Successful Conduct of the War."

He worked for Baltimore County for more than 37 years, retiring in 1985 as chief of the Bureau of Public Services, which he helped create, and chairman of the county's Review Group Subdivision Planning Committee. He was a member of Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church in Reisterstown all his life, serving on the property and cemetery committees.

An avid train collector and hobbyist, he was one of four men who developed the Christmas train garden at Kennilworth Mall. His specialty was designing and building animations. He was a member of the Train Collectors Association and the Kiwanis of Reisterstown.

Surviving, in addition to his wife, are children Sande Dyott and husband Bill, of Annapolis, Steve Benson and wife Celia, of Baltimore, Tom Benson and wife Michelle Marozik, of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Bryan Benson and wife Sue, of Glyndon; grandchildren Jeff Somers, of Arnold, Luke Benson, of Baltimore, Otto Benson, of Brooklyn, and Emily and Grace Benson, of Glyndon; and a sister, Bernardine Walker.

He was predeceased by an infant son, Michael Benson; and a sister, Mary Ellen Upperco.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Eckhardt Funeral Chapel, 11605 Reisterstown Road, Owings Mills; and from 10 a.m. until the time of the service, 11 a.m. Friday at Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church, 15300 Dover Road, Reisterstown. Interment will be at Pleasant Grove.

Memorial contributions may be sent to Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church, 15300 Dover Road, Reisterstown, MD 21136.

Online condolences may be offered at www.eckhardtfuneralchapel.com.

Sign this guest book online at www.carrollcountytimes.com.