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Former La Conner resident Dr. Robert E. Benner, 70, died Thursday, Nov 16, 1989, in a local nursing home.
He served as a lieutenant in the U. S. Army during World War II. He was a pilot and was recognized for valor in combat in Italy.
He is survived by three daughters, two sons, one brother and three grandchildren.
Private cremation was conducted at Mount Vernon Crematory under the direction of Kern Funeral Home. Private family service will be conducted with inurnment at Fort McPherson National Cemetery, Maxwell, Neb.
20 May 1944
At a 12th AAF B-26 Marauder Bomber Base -- Robert E. Benner has been promoted to the rank of first Lieutenant. He has been awarded the Air Medal and the European Campaign ribbon.
Lieutenant Benner is first pilot in a fast B-26 Marauder in Major General John K. Canon's 12th AAF. He attended flying school at Bonham, Tex., Perrin FIeld, Sherman, Tex., and graduated from advanced flying school at Altus, Okla., where he received his flying wings.
One of his hottest attacks was on a road bridge at Caprano. The formation enountered intenst, heavy, accurate flak and the cockpit was filled with smoke. Lieutenant Benner piuloted the plan through the flak without injury to the crew or serious damage to the plane.
In a raid over Perogia in June, 1943, his place was hit and seriously damaged by flak. The hydraulic system was shot out making necessary the landing gear be pumped down by hand. And in addition, unknown to the crew, one of the main tires was flat. Added to these hazards, as he came in for a landing a truck started across the runway in front of him. It was necessary to get up a great deal of speed suddenly to hope over the truck. As a result the plane landed with far too much speed, the flat tire threw the plane left of the landing strip into the parking area. With coolness and skill, Lieutenant Benner managed to dodge all the parked aircraft with the fast moving ship bringing his place to a stop in a ditch. None of the crew were injured.
Lieutenant Benner graduated from Scribner High school in 1936, and attended the University of Nebraska Engineering School for four years. He is son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry J. Benner of Scribner, and has a brother, Charles H. Benner, also serving with the Army Air Corps.
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Obituary
On October 28, 2000, Wanda Fae Benner, loving mother and grandmother, went to be with the Lord after an extended illness.
She was born in Gillette, Wyoming on September 18, 1936 and was adopted at age 13 by Guy and Ethel McHarry. She was raised and schooled in Cheyenne, Wyoming and moved to the Skagit Valley area in 1968.
She was a very gifted pianist, an avid antique collector, enjoyed beachcombing for agates and especially loved spending time with her family and grandchildren.
Wanda worked most of her life in the hotel and hospitality industry and retired as manager of the Days Inn in Mount Vernon in 1999 after eight years of service.
She was precended in death by her parents, Guy and Ethel McHarry, and her beloved son, Edward Strahmann in 1974.
She is survived by five children: Vincent Strahmann of Soldotna, AK, Cynthia Strahmann and Stephanie Lyle of Mount Vernon, WA, Nathan Benner of Seattle and Helene Jarrels of Hillsdale, W@I; also four grandchildren: Mason and Jerome Welmers and Tyler Cotten of Mount Vernon, WA and Dakota Skye Willers of Hillsdale, WI.
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