James C. Benham

DOVER: James C. Benham, 84, of 20 Richardson Dr. died at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital in the company of his loving family on July 6, 2004. He died from complications from poor recovery after a fall. He had been an Alzheimer’s patient at Riverside Rest Home since 2002, where he received splendid care from a very compassionate and loving staff.

He was born in Lynn, MA March 10, 1920 the son of James J. and Irene T. (Bennett) Benham. He graduated from Lynn English High School and from the Boston Naval Shipyard Apprentice Program. He took supplementary courses at the University of New Hampshire and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

After high school he worked as a self-employed lobsterman and was also in the civilian Conservation Corps at several of their forest work camps in Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire. During World War II he served for almost four years in the Army Air Corps in the US, England and Europe.

He was married to Evelyn M (Johnson) Benham for fifty-five years. They had five children and seven grandchildren.

He worked at the Boston Naval Shipyard before transfer to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in 1960. He and his wife, Evelyn, moved their family to Dover in 1960. He was well respected in the shipyard community and much enjoyed his years as a Planner and Estimator.

He traveled extensively on Navy Yard business, frequently for ship checks, with trips to Bremerton, Norfolk, New London, Charleston, Spain, Guam and Scotland. He retired from the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in 1980. He later worked for a time for Eckart Engineering.

He had been a 4-H Leader and helper, member of Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, the Dover Lodge of Elk # 184, the American Legion Post # 8. He was a communicant of St Joseph Church.

He loved planning and going on trips with his family. He and his wife traveled after retirement to tropical islands, the British Isles, US National Parks and many beautiful US cities and States. He had a boat and loved saltwater fishing. He enjoyed solving crossword puzzles and was an avid cribbage player. He loved his grandchildren. He was a passionate blueberry picker, and was enjoyed by his dogs Berry and Duke on many romps through the fields and woods around his home. His cat, Mittens, would often follow. His love and patience with pets was a great example to all that knew him.

Brothers John Benham and Ed Benham of Lynn, MA preceded him in death.

Survivors include, his wife Evelyn of Dover, his daughter, Pamela McSheehy and her husband Tim of Miami, FL, his son Tom of Rochester, NH, his son Mike of Dover, his daughter Patti Hannes of N. Fryeburg, ME and his daughter Mary Brunnegraff and her husband Dale of Derry, NH, and a sister Martha Chapman of Daytona, FL. Also, his seven grandchildren, Sean McSheehy of Nebraska, Keith McSheehy of Miami, FL, Sarah, Susan and Eric Hannes of N. Fryeburg, ME, Monica and Ross Brunnegraff of Derry, NH

Relatives and friends may call Friday from 6-9PM at the Tasker Funeral Home 621 Central Ave Dover, NH A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday at 10:00AM in St. Joseph Church, Central Ave Dover. Burial will follow in Pine Hill Cemetery, Dover.

Donations may be made to the Riverside Rest Home County Farm Cross Rd. Dover, NH 03820 or to your local Alzheimer’s Association, American Heart Association or the American Lung Association.

Please go to www.taskerfh.com for more information or to sign the on-line guest book.