John R. Benesh, 87, of Fairview Township died at 1:22 p.m. Thursday, at UPMC Passavant.

He was born Dec. 23, 1917 in Harmony, he was the son of the late John Benesh and Agnes Vitous Benesh.

Mr. Benesh served in U.S. Army during World War II. A combat veteran, he participated in the fighting around Hitler's summer retreat, Berchtesgaden. He later was a member of the Allied occupational forces in Germany.

He retired from Witco Chemical Corp. in 1982 after 39½ years of service as the foreman in charge of all maintenance for the Petrolia refinery.

He was a longtime member of St. James Roman Catholic Church in Petrolia, and, later, the Mater Dolorosa Roman Catholic Church in Chicora.

Mr. Benesh is survived by one daughter, Ruth Ann Gilmore of Petrolia; one son, John Benesh, Jr. and his wife, Lane, of Atlanta, Ga.; three grandchildren, Maria Buzard of Bruin, Marlene Pope and husband, Kent, of Emlenton and Donald Gilmore of Pittsburgh; three great-grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; and one sister, Anna Mae Benesh of Pittsburgh.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth A. Kemege Benesh, whom he married Aug. 13, 1938, and who died Jan. 8, 2000, two brothers and one sister.

BENESH - Services for John R. Benesh, who died Thursday, Sept. 29, 2005, will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the mausoleum of the Butler County Memorial Park. Arrangements are being handled by YOUNG FUNERAL HOME, Butler.Information is available at www.youngfuneralhomes.com.