Motorcycle rider, firefighter gets fitting farewell
WEST SUNBURY — A dedicated motorcycle rider and volunteer firefighter who died at a young age received a fitting farewell Monday, May 15.
Brian Scott “Bubby” Benson, 32, of West Sunbury, who loved riding his Harley-Davidson and serving with the North Washington Volunteer Fire Department, died unexpectedly at his home Wednesday, May 10.
Leading the procession from his funeral service at William F. Young Funeral Home to Concord Presbyterian Church Cemetery was a department firetruck followed by a custom-made motorcycle hearse that carried his coffin.
Brian’s brother, Michael Benson, followed the hearse in Brian’s pickup, and a friend followed him riding Brian’s bike with Brian’s girlfriend, Charmaine Wulff.
Benson, of Waynesburg, Greene County, said Brian loved riding his bike with fellow members of the Double DD Misfits Saddle Club, a horse riding club, and family and friends.
Knowing Benson’s family, the shop owner who built the hearse and its owner, funeral home owner Ed Young put them together to make the solemn funeral and burial service memorable.
“This was a first in Butler County,” Young said about use of the motorcycle hearse.
Young also said Brian once rode his bike to lead a friend’s funeral procession.
The custom-built trike pulls a custom hearse trailer. Both were built by Greg Tebay, owner of Custom Hotrod & Cycle Shop in Clay Township.
Tebay said he designed and built the motorcycle hearse for a Mercer County doctor who offers it for funeral services and provides a driver.
He said he took the hearse to a couple of shows last year, but Monday’s funeral was the first time it was used.
“I’m more than glad to have it here for them,” said Tebay, who joined several others on motorcycles in the procession.
The motorcycle hearse will appear in Memorial Day parades in Harrisville and Mercer County, he said.
A memorial service was held Sunday for Brian at the fire station, Chief Bruce Confer said. Firefighters from neighboring departments attended.
He said Brian loved being a firefighter.
“He enjoyed helping people, period,” Confer said.
Brian had been a member of the department since he was 12 years old and helped prepare the department’s rodeo grounds as a member of the department’s rodeo committee. The rodeo, held annually in August, is the department’s primary fundraiser.
Confer said Brian and Michael’s late father, John, also was a department firefighter. He said John used to bring both boys to fires with him when they were children, and they would bring bottles of water to the volunteers who were fighting fires and help any way they could.
