Keith Cemetery Alfalfa County Oklahoma

Funeral service for Benton Francis Thomason will be 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 1, 2010, at Alva First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) with Rev. Ron Pingelton officiating. Interment will be in Keith Cemetery under the direction of Marshall Funeral Home, Alva.

Benton Francis Thomason, son of the late Charles Benton and Margaret (Breen) Thomason, was born March 24, 1915, on the farm near Burlington and passed away Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2010, in Perry, Okla., at the age of 95 years, 7 months and 3 days.

Benton graduated from Burlington High School with the class of 1932. In 1937, he graduated from Oklahoma A&M with a degree in animal husbandry and was recognized as an outstanding graduate and entered into the Hall of Fame of Graduates of Animal Husbandry. He was the vo-ag teacher at Garber for 10 years. He received a Silver Award from the National Vocational Agriculture Teachers and a Distinguished Service Award at Southern Regional Agriculture Education Conference. He was very proud of the many accomplishments on a state and national level by his students and through their adult careers.

On July 11, 1943, he was united in marriage to Marjorie Elizabeth "Betty" Dayton. In 1955, he obtained a master's degree in agriculture from Oklahoma A&M. They lived in Stillwater, where he was Vocational Agriculture State Staff District Supervisor and a coordinator of the Young Farmer Program. He had served as superintendent of National FFA Livestock Showmanship Contest, livestock superintendent of the Livestock Show, president and other officer positions of the Southern Regional Agriculture Conference. During this time he maintained a Hereford cattle herd and was a farmer and rancher with his son, Bill. They moved to Alva in 1973.

He was a member of First Christian Church, Alva, where he served as deacon. He also was a member of American and Oklahoma Hereford Associations, American and Oklahoma Cattlemen's Associations and National Vocational Agriculture Supervisor's Association. He also was a member of Kiwanis Club and many other community organizations.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Betty, and three sisters, Marcella Schupbach, Thelma Cross and Vera Collins.

Benton is survived by sons, Charles Thomason and wife Janice of North Zulch, Texas, and Bill Thomason and wife Nancy of Perry, Okla.; daughter, Nancy Giles and husband Bob of Monument, Colo.; and sister, Doris Armbruster of Burlington, Okla. Also surviving are 10 grandchildren, Chad Thomason and wife, Laurie of Conroe, Texas, Kristy Thomason of North Zulch, Texas, Brian Thomason and wife Kelly of Owasso, Okla., Scott Thomason of Seattle, Wash., Kevin Thomason and wife Angela of Cherokee, Okla., Kyle Thomason and wife Kathy of Clarksville, Tenn., Rodney Warren Giles of Denver, Colo., Jennifer Janeen Samson and husband Adrian of Colorado Springs, Colo., Rachel Joy Giles of Bellingham, Wash., and Thomas A. Giles of Monument; seven great-grandchildren; and other relatives and friends.

Memorial contributions may be made through the funeral home to Alva First Christian Church or Oklahoma FFA Foundation.

Remembrances may be shared with the family at http://www.marshallfuneralhomes.com/.

(Submitted by family)

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