John Ph.D.

VAN WERT, Ohio - John D. Benya, Jr., Ph.D., passed away on Jan. 31, 2013, at VanCrest Nursing Home. He was 87 years old.

John was born Dec. 5, 1926, in Akron, Ohio, son of the late John Benya, Sr. and the late Suzann (Zufpiak) Benya. He is survived by his wife, Pamela Benya and Chandler Conley of Van Wert, OH, Lucas and wife, Kara Conley of Circleville, OH, daughters Julia Rodenbeck of Van Wert and Kathelena and husband, Daniel Burns of Cary, NC, brother Daniel and wife, Charlotte Benya of Parma, OH, stepmother Spajia Benya of Akron, OH and grandchildren Jesse Rodenbeck of Ossian, IN, Matthew Burns of Cary, NC, and Adam and Andrew Conley of Circleville, OH.

He was preceded in death by his first wife Helen Christoff of Lima, OH; stepmother Helen Benya of Akron, OH; sister Mildred Jackson of North Fort Myers, Florida, and stepdaughter Larissa Conley of Van Wert, OH.

John received his undergraduate degree from Miami University, Oxford Ohio, a Master's degree from Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, and his Doctor of Philosophy degree in speech pathology from Wayne State University, Detroit, Mich. He was a certified speech pathologist and audiologist.

He was an active member of the armed services and ended his military career as a captain in the Ohio National Guard.

John began his career teaching at Indiana University-Purdue University in Fort Wayne, IN, and worked at both Lutheran Hospital and St. Joseph Hospital as a speech and hearing clinician and consultant before entering private practice in Van Wert, OH. As director of the Speech and Hearing Center for twenty years, John worked with the community and at various hospitals and nursing homes throughout the western Ohio area including Van Wert, Celina, Coldwater, Delphos, Paulding and Lima. He was also active with the Visiting Nurse Association of Van Wert/Delphos.

Throughout his life, John was involved in his community. He was an active member of the American Legion ISAAC Post 178, the Moose Lodge 320 and Trinity Friends Church in Van Wert, OH.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013, to celebrate his life at Trinity Friends Church in Van Wert, OH. Calling will be at 10 a.m. until the service at the church.

The family would like to thank the staff at VanCrest Nursing Home and State of the Heart Hospice for their wonderful care and support.

Preferred memorial is to VanCrest Activities fund or State of the Heart Hospice.