BENNER, Paul E.

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona, Wednesday, January 16, 2013 Paul E. Benner, 79, passed away on Jan. 10, 2013, while at his home in Prescott, Ariz. Paul was born March 29, 1933, in Allentown, Pa., to Edwin B. Benner and Meda W. Erdman from Sumneytown, Pa. Paul was the youngest of three children and spent his entire childhood in Sumneytown. He is a graduate of Upper Perkiomen High School in East Greenville, Pa., and Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., where he earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering in 1956. Paul married his high school sweetheart, Patricia Joan Snyder, of East Greenville on Sept. 17, 1960, in Valley Forge, Pa. They enjoyed 52 years of marriage, traveling, and living in numerous locations throughout the United States and abroad in Australia and Mexico. Paul had many interests and enjoyed outdoor activities including hunting, fishing, and boating. Paul had a very successful 40-year career with Alcoa, based in Pittsburgh, Pa. He began his career in Massena, N.Y., and held key domestic assignments managing property, purchasing, construction, and the environment in Bauxite, Ark.; Pittsburgh, Pa.; NASH International in Charlotte, N.C.; and Los Angeles, Calif. His expertise was also highly recognized internationally for his contributions to Alcoa's overseas expansion efforts in Surinam, Jamaica, Brazil, Mexico, and Kwinana and Pinjarra, Australia often during challenging conditions in the 1960s and 1970s. Most notably, he was president of ALCOMEX in Mexico City, Mexico, from 1978-1981. The pinnacle of his career was serving as president of Texas Engineered Products Company (TEPCO, an Alcoa subsidiary), in El Paso, Texas. During his retirement years, Paul was active in his Prescott, Ariz., community, volunteering for the Prescott Area Wildland Urban Interface Commission (PAWUIC), including serving as the vice chairman, where he was recognized as Volunteer of the Year for his work on fire prevention and education. He was also the president of his neighborhood homeowners association. In addition, Paul was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, Prescott Chapter, and fraternal order, Freemasonry. Paul is survived by his wife, Patricia J. Benner of Prescott, and their three children and eight grandchildren, Joanne Home (her husband, Douglas, and their three children Cameron, Lindsey, and Alec of Moraga, Calif.); Edward Benner (his wife Christine and their two children Sara and Rachel of Rowlett, Texas); and Robert (his wife Gretchen and their three children Courtney, Megan, and Ryan of McKinney, Texas). He is also survived by his sister, Julia Westley of Macungie, Pa. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, PFC Edwin E. Benner, who served in the U.S. Army and was killed in action during WWII. He will live in our hearts forever. A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, at First United Methodist Church in McKinney, Texas, followed by a graveside service at Ridgeview Memorial Park, Allen, Texas. Family and friends are invited to the funeral home at their convenience on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013, to pay their respects and to sign the register book. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the PAWUIC (a partner of Prescott Fire Department Wildland Division, www.cityofprescott.net/services/fire/wildland.php) or the American Cancer Society. To convey condolences or to sign an online registry, please visit www.tjmfuneral.com. Information provided by survivors.