Titus Stephen 'Ty' Grant Bender
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Titus Stephen "Ty"
Grant Bender, 33, died Sunday (Jan. 2, 2000) at his home near
Springfield, Mo.
He was born Feb. 13, 1966, in Newton to
Pastor Vern and Betty Carol (O'Dell) Bender.
He grew up in Newton and graduated from
Newton High School. He also graduated from Dodge City Community
College, where he received his bachelor of science in nursing degree
with honors from Bethel College in 1993. He was elected Who's Who
among students in universities and colleges in 1992 to 1993, and was
listed in America's outstanding names and faces. He was a member of
Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.
He was formerly employed as chief union
steward at Boeing Aircraft and then Beech Aircraft in Wichita for
several years. He spearheaded the Special Olympics at Cessna Stadium
in Wichita.
He served in the U.S. Army and was
stationed in Egypt with the Army Nurse Corps., where he was awarded a
certificate of achievement in the reorganization and transition of
Reynolds Army Community Hospital. He also served as an emergency room
trauma nurse at Fort Sill, Okla. from 1993 to 1997, where he obtained
the rank of captain.
He moved near Springfield and was
currently employed as an occupational health therapist at Paul
Meuller Co. in Springfield.
He enjoyed keeping physically fit and
had broken several weight lifting records in Kansas. He also enjoyed
collecting and rebuilding jeeps, gardening and cooking.
Survivors include: mother, Betty Bender
of Conway, Mo.; father, Pastor Vern Bender of Newton; one brother,
Timothy Bender of Conway, Mo.; maternal grandfather, Ivan O'Dell of
Strafford, Mo.; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
He was preceded in death by maternal
grandmother, Freda O'Dell; and paternal grandparents, Glen and Lenora
Bender.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m.
Saturday at Holman-Howe Chapel in Lebanon, Mo., with the Rev. Jerry
Davis officiating. Burial will be in the O'Dell Family Farm Cemetery.
Friends may call from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Friday at the funeral home.
Memorials have been established with
Good Samaritan Boys Home and Laclede County Humane Society in care of
Holman-Howe Funeral Home, P.O. Box 28, Lebanon MO 65536.
