Harold Marvin Bender

Harold Marvin Bender, 88, of St. Joseph, died on Tuesday, June 26, 2007, at Lakeland Continuing Care in Berrien Center. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 A.M., on Friday, June 29, 2007, at Kerley-Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph with Rev. Melanie Lawrence officiating. Friends may visit with the family from 9-11 A.M., on Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Ft. Custer National Cemetery in Augusta, MI at 2:30 P.M, on Friday. In Lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Alzheimer’s Association or a charity of the donor’s choice. Friends may send the family a condolence message or sign the guest book on-line at www.stark-menchinger.com. Harold was born on November 11, 1918 in Benton Harbor. He graduated Benton Harbor High School in 1937 and attended the University of Michigan for two years. Harold served in the U.S. Army during WWII as a Tech Sgt. from March 27, 1941 until November 11, 1945. He married Donna Styburski on January 16, 1970. Harold loved bowling and spent many years as a manager of Blossom Lanes in Benton Harbor. He was in the Hall of Fame of Blossomland Bowling Association. He was also a very good bridge player. Harold is survived by his wife, Donna; sons, Dean (Margaret) Bender of Kalamazoo and Paul (Diane) Bender of Covert; step-son, Stephen Blakeslee of Watervliet; brother, Norman Bender of Palm Desert, CA; grandchildren, Kelley, Jeff, Craig, Candice, Risa, Josh, and Kimberly; five great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Harold was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Helen (Becker) Bender; and daughters, Cheryle Martin and Marcia Singer.