Joseph F. Benson Sr.

Joseph F. Benson Sr.
August 5, 1932 - October 20, 2024
Joseph F. Benson, Sr., 92 of Wallingford, loving and devoted husband of 67 years to the late Maria G. Benson passed away peacefully on October 20, 2024, at home. Joseph was born in Hamden, CT on August 5, 1932, and was a son of the late Clarence and Ethel (McGovern) Benson. Joseph grew up in Hamden and was a proud veteran serving in the United States Army during the Korean War. Joseph valued the time that he spent serving his country. Upon returning to civilian life, Joseph worked in the typesetting industry as an outside sales representative serving many clients all over Connecticut and New York. Joseph then began a second career that he found very rewarding working as a public safety officer at Quinnipiac University for 27 years. In his early years, Joseph loved to hunt. He, along with his hunting buddies dedicated much time planning and preparing for the upcoming deer seasons in Vermont and then later in Connecticut. In addition to hunting, Joseph also enjoyed fishing, especially the traditional opening day of trout season spent with his sons and grandsons. Joseph also spent many hours immersed in model railroading researching and collecting model trains of his youth from the New York, New Haven, and Hartford line. Joseph lived on his own terms right until the end and he, along with his family are very grateful for the support received from his special neighbors Herbert and Debbie Griffiths; and Joe and Maria Pires.
Joseph is survived by his two daughters, Donna Greenberg and her husband, Dr. Randy Greenberg of Cheshire and Diane Camp and her husband, David of Southington; his sons Joseph Benson, Jr. and his partner, Cherie Mangino, of Wallingford and James Benson and his wife Tracey, of Cheshire; his daughter-in-law Debbie Benson of Durham; his grandchildren, Sarah Grillo, David Greenberg, Stephen Greenberg, Joseph Benson III, Jennifer Benson, Jaquelyn Benson Caponigro, Dana Camp, Patrick Camp, David Camp, Maureen Hunter, Hannah Benson, Corey Alfieri and Charlette Alfieri; his great-grandchildren, Grayson, Aurelia, and Violet Grillo, Nora Camp, and Enzo Caponigro; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother James Benson, and his sisters, Theresa Schuster and Ethel Keogh.
Joseph's family will receive relatives and friends at The Wallingford Funeral Home, 809 North Main Street Ext., on Tuesday from 9 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. when his funeral cortege will proceed to the Church of the Resurrection, 115 Pond Hill Road, Wallingford, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow in the family plot at St. John Cemetery in Wallingford. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to St Jude Children's Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1999, Memphis, TN 38101.