Samuel L. Benedict

Samuel L. Benedict, 88, died Monday, February 24, 2025.

He was born in Bucyrus on March 6, 1936 to the late Frank R. Benedict and Annabelle (Jaroe) Benedict Deisler. After graduating from Bucyrus High School in 1954, he was in the Navy from 1955-1959. While in the service, he studied Aviation Electronics and served on the aircraft carrier USS Kearsarge. Upon his return, Sam’s electronics experience led to a successful career with PECO/ITT. His work took him all over the nation and around the world selling computer power systems. He retired as the company’s sales director and later helped get PECO-II established. While working at PECO, he also met Dee Stamper who had moved from Kentucky for work. They were married on May 29, 1960 and shared a beautiful life together.

Depending on what relationship you had with him, Samuel was known as Bub, LeRoy, Ben, or Sam. While work did keep him on the road a lot, he found time to be a former member and President of the Col. Crawford Lions Club and was a Sunday school teacher, treasurer, and council member as a former member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in North Robinson. He bowled in leagues, was an avid Ohio State Buckeyes fan, and enjoyed fishing with trips to several destinations including Canada. He and Dee also wintered in Marathon, Florida for many years.

Since he traveled so much for work, home was Sam’s happiest place. He loved being outdoors and usually had a tan to prove it. He and Dee welcomed many hummingbirds with their feeders and his vast garden kept him busy. He nurtured beautiful rosebushes and was often mowing. Sam was a lifelong learner, an avid reader, and passionate about genealogy work. He traced the Benedicts back many generations including one ancestor who served as Sheriff of Nottingham and immigrants who came to the New World in the 1600s. He also followed politics and kept up on current events.

Nothing gave Sam greater joy than being a grandfather. “Pa” let them climb all over him as he played with them, and he loved watching them grow up to give him more blessings in the form of great grandchildren.

Sam is survived by his bride of 64 years, Dee Benedict; daughters, Karen (Eric) James, Jenny (Jay) Stuckman, and Julia Hargis; grandchildren, Meghan (Christopher) Hampton, Alexandra James, Zachary James, Jordan (Jenny) Stuckman, and Joshua (Paige) Stuckman; five great grandchildren; along with nephews and extended family.

In addition to his parents, Sam was preceded in death by sister and brother-in-law, Pat and Carl Pensinger.

All services will be held at Wise Funeral Service in Bucyrus. The Benedict family will receive friends on Monday, March 3 from 4-7 pm and the funeral will be on Tuesday at 11:00 am with Certified Celebrant, Lisa Snyder officiating. Burial will follow in Oakwood Cemetery with military rites by the US Navy Honor Guard and Bucyrus Veterans Military Funeral Detail.

Those wishing to make memorial donations can make them payable to Alzheimer’s Association and give through the funeral home. Memories and photos can be shared on the guestbook on Sam’s tribute page at www.wisefuneral.com.