George Klein

MARION - George Richard Klein, formerly of Burbank, died at 7:05 p.m. Monday, Oct. 28, 2007, in Heartland Regional Medical Center in Marion.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Mitchell-Hughes Funeral Home in Marion, with Father Richard Mohr officiating. Military rites will be accorded by American Legion Post 1301 at the funeral home. Cremation and burial arrangements are pending. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Mr. Klein was a railroad dispatcher for 42 years. Before that, he served with the Marines during the end of World War II and the Korean War. He was also a member of the American Legion in Marion.

He was born July 4, 1929, in Logansport, Ind., to George and Virginia (Byerly) Klein. He married Joan Anderson on May 6, 1985, in Chicago.

He is survived by his wife; nine sons, Ret Klein of Denver, Colo., Daniel Klein and wife, Geogette, of Oakland, Joseph Klein of Oakland, Gerald Klein and wife, Sylvia, of Tinley Park, James Benca and wife, Connie, of St. Cloud, Fla., Richard Benca and wife, Cathy, of Lancaster, Ohio, Bill Benca of Memphis, Gary Benca and wife, Heeyun, of Memphis and Ren Benca of Nashville, Tenn.; six daughters, Kathy Sommer and husband, Roy, of Downers Grove, Debi Hechler of Daytona Beach, Fla., Regina Klein of Chicago, Gail Johnston of Reno, Nev., Betty Edwards of Reno and Jennifer Benca of Breman, Ohio; sister Lorraine Lennon of Lebanon, Tenn.; 32 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Joseph H. Klein.