Suzanne Van Horn Benefield

BENEFIELD Suzanne Van Horn Benefield, a Past President of the Alpha Charter Guild of the Antelope Valley Hospital and a founding Board Member of the United States Flight Test Historical Foundation, died in Jacksonville, Florida on Tuesday, September 28, 2004. She was 76 and never recovered from injuries received due to an automobile accident August 31, 2004 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Mrs. Benefield was remembered by her family and friends at a beachside memorial service at The Lodge and Club at Ponte Vedra on Saturday, October 2nd. Mrs. Benefield was very active in the South Ponte Vedra Association where she was an expert bridge player and volunteer. She moved to the Turtle Shores community in 2000 from her longtime home in Lancaster, California. Suzanne Van Horn Benefield was born December 14, 1927 in Los Angeles, California. Much of her early childhood was spent playing tennis in the city parks of Pasadena. She graduated from Stadium High School in Tacoma, Washington on May 28, 1945. She spent the next seven years working as a secretary and executive assistant at several Tacoma area businesses. On October 25, 1952 she married USAF 1st Lieutenant Tommie Douglas Benefield who was stationed at Moses Lake AFB, Washington. After her husband's selection as an early astronaut and test pilot, they moved to Edwards AFB, California in 1955. She worked as a civil servant for the Air Force prior to the birth of her first child. She was very active for many years in the Officer's Wives Clubs at Edwards AFB, California, Andrews AFB, Maryland, and Scott AFB, Illinois. Mrs. Benefield moved to her longtime home in Lancaster, California in 1974 when her husband became a test pilot for Rockwell International on the B-1 Bomber program. From 1976 to 1999, she was actively involved in the Alpha Charter Guild, an auxiliary of the Antelope Valley Hospital. The Guild is dedicated to raising funds for patient care and promoting close ties between the hospital and the community. She served as President in 1982 and was a sustaining member until her move to Florida. Mrs. Benefield lost her husband, Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Tommie D. "Doug" Benefield, on August 29, 1984 in the crash of the B-1 Bomber at Edwards AFB, California. At the time he was Rockwell's Chief Test Pilot and President of the International Society of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP). From 1992 to 1999, Mrs. Benefield served another worthy cause as a key Board member and enthusiastic supporter of the Air Force Flight Test Center (AFFTC) Museum and Foundation. The Flight Test Historical Foundation was created by California State Senator Pete Knight deceased to serve as a fundraising organization to benefit the AFFTC Museum. The Foundation financed construction of the new 12,000 square foot museum facility at Edwards AFB, California, and funded restoration of many priceless historic aircraft and the display of many flight test artifacts. Mrs. Benefield's family members include her brother, Welby V an Horn, of Palm Desert, California; two sons, Tommie Benefield of Jacksonville, Florida, and Terry Benefield of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida and four grandchildren. Services under the direction and care of Quinn-Shalz, A Family Funeral Home. 3rd. St. at Ponte Vedra Blvd. 249-1100. www.quinn-shaltz.com Please sign the Guestbook at Jacksonville.com