Elizabeth WEHNER

1925 - 2018

WEHNER, Elizabeth Benson Elizabeth Benson Wehner, 93, passed away on January 23, 2018, after suffering a stroke in November. Beth often said that she lived three different lives; therefore she had three different names. She was born Ethel Mae Benson, the younger daughter of Elizabeth and Leonard R. Benson, on January 4, 1925, in Oakland, Nebraska. Her early childhood was spent in Iowa City, Iowa, before moving to Austin in 1937. After graduating from Austin High School in 1942 and spending two semesters in classes at the University of Texas, she felt the need to contribute to the war effort. The Curtiss-Wright Cadette program sent her to Purdue University for a ten-month course in the fundamentals of engineering. This was followed by a job in the defense factory of Curtiss-Wright Aircraft in Columbus, Ohio, helping to build Navy fighter planes. After the war ended, her "second life" began. Married and now known as Beni Wehner, she and her husband, Sterling Wehner, moved into the hutments put up by the University of Texas to house returning veteran students. After Sterling completed his engineering degree, the family moved to California for three years before settling in Houston. For the next two plus decades, Beni was very busy raising five sons, completing her college work by graduating from the University of Houston, starting her teaching career, and becoming very involved in the activities of St. Francis Episcopal Church. She taught ten years at the new and rapidly growing St. Francis Episcopal Day School, and then ten years of junior high math in the Spring Branch School District. After a divorce and a name change to Elizabeth Benson Wehner, Beth moved back to her beloved Austin in 1977 and entered into her "third life" or as she called it, the Reward Years. She finished her teaching career with ten years at Burnet Junior High in AISD. And she met her wonderful friend, Linn McKeighan, with whom she was able to travel to all fifty states mostly with his fifth-wheel RV. To Beth, spending time in the natural "cathedrals" of God's world visiting all the national and Texas state parks was truly an awesome experience! When long distance driving was no longer feasible, Beth and Linn took up square dancing and thoroughly enjoyed the warmth and activity and camaraderie of the square dance community. Beth also found fulfillment in volunteering at The Gathering a respite program for people with Alzheimer's sponsored by Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church. For her final years, Beth moved to the Lyndale Retirement Community in San Angelo, where she was able to indulge her love of bridge by playing, with her son Karl as partner, at the Duplicate Club, and participating in many fun activities with her wonderful new friends at Lyndale. Beth was predeceased by her parents, of Austin, and her sister, Frances Kahn, of Sedona, Arizona. She is survived by her five sons and their wives: the Rev. Paul and Sherry of Richmond, Texas; Eric and Glenda of Houston; Dr. Karl and Sherry of San Angelo; Todd and Sarah of Austin; and Joel and Terri of Houston. She also leaves nine grandchildren: Robert Wehner, Anne Prater, Brooks (and Shannon) Wehner, Abigail (and Wes) Smith, Ellen (and Ryan) Moore, Kurt (and Woolee) Wehner, Ross Wehner, Zachary Wehner, and Ethan Wehner and her final blessing four great-grandchildren: Amber, Travis, and Connor Prater, and Hattie Wehner. A celebration of Beth's life will be held on March 10th at Calvary Episcopal Church in Richmond, Texas. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Houston Audubon Society.