W. J. “Bill” Benthal
W. J. “Bill” Benthal, age 92 of Bourbon, MO, passed away Friday, March 22, 2024, at Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan, MO.
Bill as he was known was born on May 19, 1931, to the late Jack and Violet Beatrice (Morgan) Benthal in Lennox, Tennessee. He was united in marriage to Helen Lewis in 1951 in Pickett, Arkansas, and together they had two daughters, Susan and Cathy. Helen passed when she was very young leaving Bill to raise their two daughters.
Bill was employed by General Motors in St. Louis, MO, on the assembly line for thirty years. After retiring, he made his way to Bourbon where he met and married Dorothy Higgins on November 23, 1991. They celebrated thirty-two years of marriage and enjoyed traveling and camping at Cloud 9.
Bill was a guitar player and especially enjoyed playing Blue Grass music. He and Dorothy were regulars at the Bourbon Senior Center where they had many good friends. After Dorothy could no longer go to the center, Bill faithfully picked up her lunch and delivered it to her every day. Bill was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Bourbon where he and Dorothy faithfully attended.
Bill is survived by wife Dorothy Benthal of Bourbon, MO; two daughters, Susan Fleschert and husband Michael of St. Peters, MO, Cathy Waskom of O’Fallon, MO; step-children: Carol Biggins of Bourbon, MO, William Higgins and wife Kathy of Lake Jackson, TX, Jeffrey Higgins of St. Louis, MO, and Patrick Higgins and wife Tina of Bourbon, MO; three grandchildren: Donavan Waskom of Everton, GA, Heather Fleschert of O’Fallon, MO, and Tiffannie Pollock and husband Matt of St. Louis, MO; one great-grandchild, Braxton Pollock; step-grandchildren: Shauna Biggins, Missy Sappington and husband Sonny, Lorie Starbeck, Ronnie Starbeck, B.J. Higgins and wife Julie, Mandy Wilson and husband Jeremy, Dustin Knuckles, Cody Higgins and Jerod Higgins; many great-great-step-grandchildren; one sister Carolyn Boldt of Eureka, MO; nieces, nephews other relatives and many friends.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents and wife Helen Benthal, step- daughter Sharen Ware; and three brothers, Eugene, Charlie and Wayne Benthal; two step-grandchildren, Jerod and Brian Keeney; his son-in-law, Kevin Biggins, a brother-in-law and wife, Alan and Betty Enloe.
Funeral services will be conducted 12:00 PM, Thursday, March 28, 2024, at Calvary Baptist Church in Bourbon with Pastor Ed Carter officiating. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, St. Louis, MO.
Visitation will be from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, Thursday, at Calvary Baptist Church in Bourbon, MO.
All arrangements were under the care of the Eaton Funeral Home in Sullivan, MO.