Marvin George Benninger

Marvin George Benninger, 88, of Houston, TX passed away on October 8, 2016 in Houston, TX. He was born on December 5, 1927 in Muscatine, Iowa to George and Erna (Maelglin) Benninger.

Marvin grew up in Muscatine, Iowa and, like his family, was an avid Chicago Cubs fan. He attended Muscatine High School, where he met his future wife, Mary (Benton). While in high school, he was an enthusiastic participant in basketball and track. After graduating from high school in 1945, Marvin enlisted in the Army, serving in Texas, California and Washington State. After his 1947 discharge from the Army, he returned to Muscatine, marrying Mary in 1949 and continuing his education at Muscatine Junior College. After earning an associates’ degree, Mary and he moved to Des Moines, IA where Marvin attended Drake University, earning a BS in marketing in 1951.

Marvin always enjoyed walking through stores and looking at goods for sale. Following this interest, he joined Sears Roebuck where he started out as a management trainee in Alton, IL. He spent the next 36 years with Sears. His work with Sears took Marvin and his family to numerous places around the United States, including Columbia, MO, Lincoln, NE, Houston, TX, San Angelo, TX, Topeka, KS, and Oklahoma City, OK. Along with all the travelling, he picked up allegiances to local sports teams, including the Houston Astros and the Oklahoma Sooners. Marvin enjoyed working in the yard. After each move he set to work with his two sons planting trees and bushes in the new house’s yard. Unfortunately, the family usually moved before seeing the full fruits of their labor. Over the years, he moved up the ladder as a Sears store manager and by his retirement in 1987, was the manager of the Sears Sequoyah store in Oklahoma City, overseeing approximately 500 employees.

Retirement brought Mary and Marvin to Lake Kiowa, TX in 1987. With the move Marvin added the Texas Rangers, Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Cowboys to the roster of favored teams, but still remained an ardent Cubs fan. Marvin and Mary were active members of the Lake Kiowa community and regularly attended the Lake Kiowa Chapel. While in retirement, Marvin and Mary took up golf. With diligent effort, he became a keen and capable golfer, recording at least three holes-in-one. At the age of 75, he managed to shoot his age in an 18-hole round.

In later years, he devotedly cared for Mary, who had developed Alzheimer’s disease. Despite her affliction, they would go on outings to the local mall or enjoy a meal out. In the evenings, they would sit together and watch TV. After her passing in 2013, he moved from Lake Kiowa to Houston. In later years he battled with Parkinson’s disease. The family would like to thank the staff at Houston’s Parkway Place for their tireless and compassionate devotion to Marvin, especially during his final weeks in their care.

He leaves his son Jim and his wife, Alexandra Dulchinos in Newton, MA; his son David and his wife, Jackie of Houston, TX and his daughter Diane and her husband Don Pass of Richardson, TX. Another daughter, Nancy, died in infancy. His two brothers, Bernie Benninger of Santa Maria, CA and Gene Benninger of Muscatine, IA, survive him. In addition, he had eight grandchildren: Charlie and Katherine Benninger of Newton, MA; Brooke McCallum (husband Will), Mark, Brett and Wade Benninger of Houston, TX and Phillip Pass (wife Laurence) of Fort Walton, FL and Julia Pass of Richardson, TX.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, October 15 at the Fairview Cemetery in Gainesville, TX with the Reverend J. Ray Smith officiating the service. The family will receive friends from 9:00 to 10:00 AM prior to the service at Geo. J. Carroll & Son Funeral Home in Gainesville. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity or organization of your choice.