George P. Benedetto

George P. Benedetto, 89, of Uhrichsville, O., passed away on Tuesday, July 13, 2010 at Amberwood Manor in New Philadelphia, O., following a prolonged period of declining health.

Born February 22, 1921, he was a son of the late Salvatore D. and Vincenza (Presutti) Benedetto.

George was a lifelong resident of the Twin City area, having been a graduate of Dennison High School in the class of 1940 before attending Ohio Wesleyan University and Muskingum College until he was called to serve his country in the United States Army Air Corps from 1943 to 1946. During high school, George was an outstanding athlete which had earned him a four-year scholarship for college.

He was a longtime member of Immaculate Conception Church in Dennison, serving as a church usher for many years, and the Dennison Knights of Columbus where he obtained 3rd and 4th Degrees. George also volunteered as the first football coach for St. Mary’s High School, and later was inducted into the St. Mary’s Hall of Fame.

George retired from Alsco Anaconda in Gnadenhutten where he had worked in the shipping and packing department, as well as served as President of the United Steelworkers Local #4612 and a member of the executive board of the Tuscarawas County AFL-CIO Labor Council. In his younger years, he had worked for the local railroad industry, as well, and had also been employed by the county’s roads department.

The ways in which George reached out to help and support his community are almost too numerous to mention. He was the first President of the United Way to be chosen from the Twin City area, had served on the Tuscarawas and Carroll Counties’ Community Mental Health Boards, was a former trustee of the Ohio Outdoor Historical Drama Association, and had been active with the Tuscarawas County Council for Church and Community Board and the Twin City Food Pantry. In his spare time, George enjoyed playing golf and was a great Notre Dame fan and memorabilia collector.

On August 20, 1949, George married the former Doris L. Schupbach with whom he enjoyed over sixty years of marriage. He loved to dance with his dear wife, and they proudly served as the Host and Hostess of the 1999 Tuscarawas County Italian-American Festival.

George is also survived by a son, Marc A. Benedetto and his wife, Mary, of Omaha, Neb.; a daughter, LuAnn Smith and her husband, Greg, of Uhrichsville; six grandchildren, Eddie Benedetto of Bowling Green, Jessica M. Lupi and her companion, Cody Halter, of Uhrichsville, Vincent and Thomas Benedetto of Omaha, Aaron Hamilton and his wife, Meghan, of Pennsylvania, and Bradon Smith of Uhrichsville; two great grandchildren, Declan and Keelan Hamilton; two sisters-in-law, Alma Bair of Dover and Josephine Benedetto of Dennison; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Concetta Benedetto; and six brothers, Paris “Benny”, Amerigo “Medic”, Alfonso “Fonz”, Jimmy, Jeremiah, and William Benedetto.

Services for George, officiated by Father Anthony Lonzo, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 17, at Immaculate Conception Church in Dennison. Interment will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery near Dennison with a military committal service. Family and friends may pay their respects at the R.K. Lindsey Funeral Home from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Saturday.

Those wishing to honor George’s memory by a charitable contribution are encouraged to do so to Immaculate Conception Church and the Alzheimer’s Association.
R.K. Lindsey Funeral Home, Inc.
(740) 922-1970
www.lindseyfh.com