Laurence Paul Benz

Major Laurence Paul Benz, Sr., Ret., died February 15, 2003 in Tilton, NH. A veteran of World War II, Laurence Benz received the Purple Heart for injuries sustained in the Battle of the Bulge in France. Following the war, Laurence Benz served in the National Guard until his retirement in 1971. Laurence Benz was born on August 24, 1916 in The Bronx, NY. As a teenager, he played drums with large bands in New York City and the surrounding area. While serving his country during World War II, he met and married 1st Lieutenant Marjorie Helen Scribner in 1945 at The Oratory in London England. With innate problem solving abilities, Larry Benz worked for several local gas companies and then, until his retirement in 1977, the T.C. Roche Company of Boston, MA, as a salesman and company representative assigned to "solve the big ones". Laurence Benz is survived by his wife of 59 years, Marjorie Helen Scribner Benz of Tilton, NH, Coralee Kleiner of Manchester, NH; Barbara Richards of Williamstown, MA; Marilyn Benz Lindquist of Hooksett, NH; Elizabeth Benz of Tilton, NH; Laurence Benz Jr., of Hooksett, NH and Susan Benz of Austin, TX. Grandchildren include: Kathryn Kleiner Dickerson of Minneapolis, MN; Timothy Kleiner of Manchester, NH; Becky Nelson Young of Pembroke, NH and Carolyn Richards of Amesbury, MA. Briana Dickerson of Minneapolis, MN and Olivia Kleiner of Manchester, NH are her great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Rose Benz, of Trumbull, CT. Funeral services will be held on February 20th at 9:00 AM at St. Mary of the Assumption Church, 10 Chestnut St., Tilton, NH. Burial will take place at the NH Veteran's Cemetery in Boscawen, NH with only family present. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Recreation Department of the New Hampshire Veterans' Home, P.O. Box 229, 139 Winter St., Tilton, NH 03276.