MELBA L. (KRAMER) WILLIAMS BENDER
Melba L. (Kramer) Williams Bender, 101, formerly of Sidney and rural Fort Loramie, died of natural causes early Wednesday morning, Feb. 13, 2019, at Elmwood Assisted Living in New Bremen.
She was a registered nurse and practiced in the industrial field. She retired from Copeland Corporation in Sidney and had previously been employed at Aluminum Industries and the Baldwin Piano Co. in Cincinnati. She was a member of St. Michael Catholic Church in Fort Loramie, where she taught CCD for many years. She was a past member of St. Michael, Knights of St. John Ladies Auxiliary, St. Ann’s Ladies Sodality and Holy Angels Catholic Church in Sidney. She had also been a Wilson Health Auxiliary volunteer.
She enjoyed her family and was an avid reader. Years ago, she did a lot of baking, canning and sewing. Her talents also included painting, drawing and writing. She wrote many pro-life letters to the editor.
She was born April 11, 1917, in Cincinnati, to the late Albert and Alvina (Stang) Kramer. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her first husband, Carroll J. Williams, who was fatally wounded June 6, 1945, while serving in World War II; second husband, Martin L. Bender, whom she married Oct. 9, 1948, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Price Hill, and who died May 22, 1999; son, Carroll “Jack” Williams; one grandson; three siblings, Albert and Frieda Kramer, Joseph and Lillian Kramer and infant Anthony Kramer; and brothers and sisters-in-law, Louise and Charles Francis, Aloysius and Clara Bender, Alvina and Clarence Cordonnier, Albert and Bea Bender, Ann Marie and John Burnaby, Christine and Don McDonald, Pauline and Melvin Schmiesing, Victor Bender, Larry and Ruth Bender, Lois Bender and Ed and Irene Bender.
She is survived by eight children, Peg Bender of Marysville, Donna and Tom Fortunato of Powell, Kathleen and Charles Bolton of Englewood, Marcia and Mel Bensman of Fort Loramie, Roger and Bobby Bender of Fort Loramie, John D. and Diana Bender of Fort Loramie, Bonnie and Jody Josefovsky of Piqua and Joyce and Denny Porter of Phoenix, Arizona; daughter-in-law, Carol Williams of Huber Heights; 21 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Ruth Bender of Centerville; brother-in-law, Julius Bender of Minster; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The Rev. Steven Shoup will preside over a celebrative Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Michael Church in Fort Loramie. Interment will follow at St. Michael’s Cemetery. Friends may call from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday at Gehret Funeral Home in Fort Loramie.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Ben-Med Scholarship, Shelby County Right to Life or Sr. Dorothy Stang Memorial/Sisters of Notre Dame De Namur.
Private condolences may be expressed at www.gehretfuneralhome.com.