Barbara Lee Bender

Barbara Lee Bender, 83, of Maple Lane in Kingston, NY, died Thursday, January 18, 2024 at HealthAlliance Hospital, Mary's Ave, Kingston. Barbara was born in East Canton, OH, the daughter of Walter and Frances (Holl) Wyler. She graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Home Economics from Kent State University in 1963. She worked as a chef in the Stouffers' test kitchen in Cleveland, OH, where she helped create and serve the very first completely microwave-prepared meal - from appetizers to dessert - to executives. In later years she was the Director of Food Service for the executive dining rooms at U.S. Steel in Gary, IN; Hewlett-Packard in La Jolla, CA; and Ford Motor in Monroe, MI. She spent the last decades of her career in Continuing Education at Peru State College in Peru, NE, where she created and managed a variety of programs throughout the state system. Barbara married Philip A. Bender (deceased, 2011) in 1962, and gave birth to sons Philip James in 1963 and Christian Alan (deceased, 2020) in 1968. She relocated to Kingston, NY in 2012 and found community and became an active member of Kingston's Fair Street Reformed Church. For a period of years, she managed the church's Fairly New Thrift Shop and participated in additional mission and outreach programs for the church. A lover of travel, she has visited her youngest brother and his family in Tonga in the South Pacific; traveled across Ireland; taken a Trans-Canadian rail trip; and joined numerous seniors trips to Canada, throughout New York State, and across the Northeastern US. Barbara was also an enthusiastic Bridge player. Barbara is survived by her eldest son, Philip Bender-Tymon of Kingston, NY and his husband, Brian; and by grandsons Timothy and Andrew Sorenson in Minnesota. She was pre-deceased by her husband; her son, Christian; her parents; her brother Paul of East Canton, OH; and her brother David of Tonga. The family has entrusted the Gilpatric-VanVliet Funeral Home, 339 Broadway, Ulster Park, with the care and cremation service arrangements for Barbara. A reception and Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, January 27 at Fair Street Reformed Church in Kingston. Reception will run from 10 - 11 am. The service will take place from 11 am - 12 pm. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared with Barbara's family at: www.GVVFH.com