Robert Warren Benner, 81, passed away on January 27, 2017 at Evergreen Nursing Home in Alamosa, CO from Alzheimer’s Disease.

Robert was born on December 10, 1935 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to William and Gabriella (née Walter) Benner.

As a young man, Robert participated in Boy Scouts and DeMolay, and tested into Central High School in Philadelphia. Robert attended the Philadelphia College of the Arts, and graduated in 1957 with a BA in Industrial Design.

At college, Robert was smitten by a young teacher playing the violin, so he courted and married Beth Ann Oberholtzer on August 30, 1958.

Robert served in the Pennsylvania National Guard as a Staff Sargent, and was called to active service during the Berlin Crisis of the Cold War in 1961.

Robert worked for General Electric in marketing during the “Mad Men” era of the early 70s, and helped to introduce the first bullet-proof materials, like Lexan, during the plastics revolution. He also worked in top management at several other companies. His career kept the family primarily in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region, but extended from Pittsfield, MA to Tampa, FL.

Robert was an avid reader, a talented home repairman/carpenter, and an occasional sailor, cook, baker, and bridge/pinochle player. He had a true love of the English language, and took particular joy in clever, multiple-meaning puns. After raising four children, Robert and Beth Ann retired to Blanca, Colorado in 1997 and helped care for their first grandchildren.

Robert was pre-deceased by his parents, William and Gabriella, his sister, Carolyn, his half-siblings William, Charles, and Virginia, and an infant daughter.

Robert is survived by his wife, Beth Ann; his children: Matthew of Houston, TX; Amanda (William Moriarty) of Philadelphia, PA; Amy (Alvin Kunugi) of Blanca, CO, and Michael (Noriko Imamura) of Tokyo, Japan, as well as his grandchildren: Jake, Cade, and Raquel Kunugi, and Anina, Adrian, Kian and Roan Benner.

Cremation was chosen by Robert and his family, and a memorial service will be held at a date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org. We hope Robert is winning the Soap Box Derby again in heaven!

Rogers Family Mortuary of Alamosa is in care of the arrangements. To leave online condolences, remarks and tributes, please visit www.RogersFunerals.com