Benjamin Ray (Benny) Greenwood |
| Posted 2009-09-10 by Edward Peed |
| After a 10-1/2 year battle with congestive heart failure and emphysema, Benjamin Ray (Benny) Greenwood passed into the arms of the Lord, Aug. 26, 2009, in Mesa. He was born in Giles, Texas, March 15, 1930, to Leona (Redd) and Charlie Greenwood. Because of the depression and devastation of the dust bowl era, the family relocated to Silver City, New Mexico when Benny was seven years old. At 13, he joined a boxing club, which he enjoyed very much after winning a few amateur matches. As a young boy, he wanted to sing and play a guitar; at age 14, with no money to buy a guitar, he built one from an apple box and taught himself to chord and play rhythm. He then learned to play stand-up bass, and played and sang with a few local country bands. Later, Benny played steel guitar. He also loved and road motorcycles. Sept. 12, 1946, at age 16, Benny joined the United States Marine Corps at El Paso. He was stationed at Camp Pendleton, where he placed second in the obstacle course at boot camp. Benny was awarded the expert rifle badge and the sharpshooter pistol badge. At 4'11”, he received the honor of being the shortest man in the Marine Corps. He continued his boxing and winning in the lightweight division. Pvt. Greenwood was a motorcycle MP, patrolling the beaches and other recreational areas his fellow Marines patronized. November 14, 1947, he was given an early honorable discharge after 14 months, because World War II had ended; therefore, a lot of the servicemen were no longer needed. Mr. Greenwood worked for a freight line service driving a truck, road construction, and in 1950 went to work for Kennecott Copper Corp in Hurley, New Mexico. In May, 1948, Benny married Billye Andrews. Along with a daughter, the family relocated to Ray, where a second daughter was born. Mr. Greenwood helped install the first crusher at Ray pit, where he was a repairman. Later, being transferred to the crusher in Hayden, he was a supervisor until he retired in October 1985. After retirement, he worked for one year as a security guard. Benny had a passion for music, writing songs and poems, and had a great voice as well. He also loved horses, a good dog, guns, fishing, hunting, camping, four-wheeling, dancing and dominoes. He taught all of his family everything he could about fishing and hunting. He was a life member of the Kearny/Ray Masonic Lodge #24, National Rifle Association, the American Legion, and the Moose Lodge #3000. Mr. Greenwood was preceded in death by one stepson, Tony Hodnett, and a nephew, Michael Kiel. He is survived by his wife Gwynette, close companion and best friend for 33 years; three daughters, Renee Guillierie (Mike Krubsack) of Olympia, Washington, Anita (David) Carter of Springerville, and Gia Valenzuela of Gilbert; one son, Staff Sgt. Jade (Leticia) Hodnett of Lake Havasu City; five granddaughters, Dawn (Todd) Jones of Springerville, Elizabeth (D.J.) Lucero of Queen Creek, Brandy Hodnett of Tucson, Armory Carter of Springerville, and Saraya Valenzuela of Gilbert; grandsons, Judah and Adam Carter of Springerville and Logan and Treyton Valenzuela of Gilbert; the magnificent seven great-grandchildren, Jordan, Mercedes, Catalina, Megan, Lily, Jessica, and Caleb; one sister, Lequita (Ray) Kiel of Glenwood, New Mexico; two aunts, Ola Mae Lockhart of Memphis, Texas and Roberta Greenwood of Kernville, California; one nephew, Kyle Kiel of California; and numerous cousins. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mr. Greenwood's name to Banner Health Foundation, Att: Banner Hospice Inpatient Care (memo on check), P.O. Box 1897, Phoenix, AZ 85001-9940 or National Rifle Association, Attn: John Commersord NRA-ILA, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030. A memorial service will be held Saturday, Sept. 12 at 11 a.m., in Kearny at Griffith Mortuary. Mr. Greenwood will be interred in Texas, at a later date. |
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