James Benton

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James Parker Benton, of Kansas City, Missouri, was born January 1, 1922 in Wesley, Arkansas the son of Ward and Grace (Dailey) Benton. He departed this life Sunday, June 24, 2007, at Liberty Hospital, Liberty, Missouri, at the age of 85 years.
On February 28, 1942, Parker was united in marriage to Betty Jo Talbot in Kansas City, Kansas. They were North Kansas City High School sweethearts.
Parker served as a Staff Sergeant for The United States Army Air Corps in World War II from 1943 until he was honorably discharged in October of 1945. He served in the South Pacific aboard the B-24 Liberator Bomber named ""Sandra Kay"" for his first daughter, born on the day the crew was assigned to the ship in Topeka, Kansas. The ""Sandra Kay"" flew 44 successful combat missions. Parker was a loyal TWA Overhaul Base employee in Kansas City for 37 years, where he served as mechanic, foreman, engineer and supervisor until his retirement in 1983. He was known as ""Jim"" at TWA and developed many close friendships. Parker was a 50 year member of the Masonic Lodge, Temple Gate Lodge #299 A.F. & A.M. in Kansas City, Missouri. He was a lifelong resident of Kansas City.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a grandson, Scott Macdonald on November 28, 1992.
He is survived by his wife, Betty J. Benton of the home; two daughters, Sandra Kay Carpenter and husband Mickey, Joyce Macdonald and husband Arthur all of Kansas City, Missouri; four grandchildren, James Carpenter, Jeff Carpenter, Brenda Shores, Stacy Bales and nine great-grandchildren, all of Kansas City, Missouri; two nieces, Carol Ryan of Florida and Mary Talbot of Oregon; a nephew, Jerry McCorkle, Las Vegas, Nevada; other relatives and many friends.
Parker was loved and respected, and will be sorely missed.
Funeral services were held Thursday, June 28, 2007 at the Dickey Funeral Home, Garden City, Missouri with burial in the Garden City Cemetery.