116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Obituaries
The Gazette publishes obituaries on a daily basis. Use the search field above to search for obituaries by name or keyword. Readers can submit an obituary or submit a milestone to The Gazette. The obituary must be submitted before 1 p.m. for publication on thegazette.com at 6 p.m. and in the daily edition the next day, with the exception of obituaries for Sunday publication, which must be submitted by 1 p.m. on Fridays.
James Benford Sr.
JAMES R. BENFORD SR.
Cedar Rapids
James "Jim" Benford, 91, died Friday, Oct. 16, 2015, at Iowa City VA Health-care Center. Graveside services with military rites will be 2 p.m. Oct. 20 at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.
Jim was born Nov. 2, 1923, to Joseph and Bessie Birdsong Benford in Ivey, Ga. He married Bonnie Bradd of Cedar Rapids in 1953. Jim enlisted in the Army in 1943 and served in Europe during World War II. After the war, he transferred to the Air Force, where he served during the Korean and Vietnam conflicts as a radio and communications specialist and code breaker. He was honorably discharged from the military in 1966.
After retiring from the Armed Forces, Jim was employed with Collins Radio and eventually retired from Harnischfeger.
Jim was a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled American Veterans.
Jim enjoyed fishing, hunting, music, golf, skiing, and playing with and fixing radios.
Jim is survived by his wife of 62 years, Bonnie of Cedar Rapids; five children, Gary, James Jr., Shelly, David and Belinda; and six grandchildren, Jason, Jennifer, Christian, Genevieve, Lachlan and Ronan.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Barbara, in 1987; his parents; and seven siblings, Elizabeth, Jewel, Mary, Cosby, Nellie, Carlton and Lindsey.
Please leave a message or tribute to the Benford family on the web page, www.cedarmemorial.com, under Obituaries.
Daily Newsletters