First born child of Harry Jennings Benefiel 1898-1988 and Sarah Louise Bronnenberg 1897-1984, brother to Forrest, Artie, Mary & Orpha. Raised on a farm in Anderson, Madison Co., Ind. When he was in the 8th grade his parents divorced. Being the oldest he helped his mother with the farm & the younger sibblings, he never finished the 8th grade.

He met Wanda Baugh while she was waitress at Walgreens in Anderson, she being 8 yrs younger. He spent 18 months in Alaska during WW II, upon returning from Alaska, he was sent to Miami Beach for the duration. His mother & Wanda took a train to Miami Beach, in that time he and mother married by Army chaplain, thus his mother returning to Anderson alone.

Richard and Wanda lived in an apartment in Miami Beach for a couple of years. After army discharge he went to work for the City of Miami Beach on road construction. Around early 1949 they bought their first home in West Miami (at that time still undeveloped and near the Everglades. They had 3 children.

On Monday, July 21, 1958 his body was found in the Everglades near Krome Ave. in the canal. He is buried at Miami Memorial Gardens, West Miami, Fla.

Richard E Benefiel