Darrel Gene Bender

Darrel Gene Bender, 84, died May 16th at the Dayton Ohio, V.A. hospital. Darrel was born October 24th 1939 in Sidney Ohio to Eugene and Stella Stiefel Bender, and they are deceased. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Diane(Develvis) Bender. Also surviving are his children, Kristin(Ed) Garret of Sidney Ohio, Amy(Matt) McMullen of Centerville Ohio and Brett (Angie) Bender of Versailles Ohio and his sister Rebecca Sue Fultz of Sidney Ohio. His sister, Jo Ann Bender preceded him in death. He has 6 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. Darrel graduated from Sidney High school with the class of 1959. He joined the United States Army in 1962, right at the beginning of the Vietnam war. He was honorably discharged from the Army in 1964. Darrel spent the rest of his life in support of the military and, thus, was a member of the Sidney American Legion, AMVETS, and the VFW. He was of the protestant faith and a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, Sidney Ohio. Darrel loved to talk about his high school football days, travel to Florida to fish with his buddies, and more than all he loved his family. Funeral services will be on Wednesday, May 22nd at 1pm at the funeral home with the Rev. Harry Peterson officiating. Visitation is 4-8pm on Tuesday, May 21st, at Salm-McGill and Tangeman Funeral home, Sidney Ohio. Entombment will be at Graceland Cemetery, Sidney Ohio, in the Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers please consider giving to the Wounded Warrior Project. Envelopes with be at the funeral home.