Jim Lewis Benton

1978 - 2012

Jim Lewis Benton, 33, of Nashville, Tenn., beloved husband, father, uncle, teacher and friend, passed away on Monday, October 22, in Williamsburg, Va., while doing what he loved, chaperoning a school group from Grassland Middle School.

Jim was born on November 6, 1978, in Porterville, Calif., to Patsy and Frank Benton. He was raised by his grandparents, Novena and Harold Neal, and embraced into the family of his uncle and aunt, John and Shirley McGuire, and their children, Johnna and Mark.

He is survived by his wife, Meredith Sullivan Benton, and daughter, Adalyn Shea Benton, both of Nashville.

Jim attended Monache High School, where he played saxophone in the award-winning band, earning a place in the California State High School Band, along with being a member of the baseball team. He graduated in 1996 as valedictorian.

After high school, Jim graduated from Porterville College with honors, and then went on graduate with a degree in humanities and received his teaching credential from Pepperdine University in 2001.

After a year of teaching eighth grade math at Medea Creek Middle School, Jim attended the University of Nottingham in Nottingham, England, where he earned a master's degree in education and human development. He returned to California and in subsequent years taught at Carmel and Medea Creek middle schools and Oak Park High School.

Jim was an avid baseball fan and enjoyed cheering on the New York Mets, as evidenced by daughter Adalyn's middle name, "Shea." In high school, he announced area baseball games for the local radio station. He also coached baseball at Carmel and Oak Park high schools.

Jim was committed to extending the learning of his students beyond the school walls, and outside the classroom he enjoyed chaperoning school trips to Washington, D.C., and Europe.

Jim was a seasoned traveler who had visited every continent. Some of his traveling highlights included a four-day trek to Machu Picchu, hiking the Milford Trek in New Zealand, and seeing India, Thailand, Antarctica, Egypt, Costa Rica and other countries.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to a scholarship fund that will allow a student who would otherwise not be able to travel to Washington, D.C., on the eighth-grade trip and/or the senior trip to Europe. Oak Park Unified School District, Attn: Dr. Tony Knight, 5801 East Conifer Street, Oak Park, CA 91377.

Services will be held on Sunday, October 28 at 4 p.m. at the Rockford Elementary School baseball field in Porterville, California, with a reception immediately following in the school cafeteria. The family respectfully requests that attendees wear New York Mets attire or orange and blue.

Pallbearers will be Mark McGuire, John Rodriguez, Jay Parmelee, Ian Trejo, Victor Anderson, Travis Moore, Matt Kalish and John McGuire. Honorary Pallbearers are Canaan McGuire, Simon McGuire, Brian Winsick, Ryan Pugh, Bill Dyer, Seth Trejo, Steve White, Ian Lopez, Balt Burns and Paul Dyer.