Obituary: John A. Bengford, 88

John A. Bengford, 88, of North Kingstown, passed away June 24, 2015. He is survived by his devoted wife of 60 years, Cecelia A. (Basso) Bengford.

Born in Odebolt, IA, he was the son of the late Bernard and Irma (Dinges) Bengford. Mr. Bengford retired at age 82 after working at the Navy Exchange Laundry for 19 years, Brown & Sharpe for 18 years and as a monitor for Laidlaw Bus for 22 years.

He was a WWII and Korean War Navy Veteran. During WWII he served in Leyte, Luzon, Iwo Jima, Okinawa and the North China Sea on the USS Lunga Point CVE 94 and in Korea had served on the USS Tarawa. He was then stationed at Quonset Point, where he met his wife. He was a communicant of St Francis de Sales Church, where he was a Eucharistic Minister and member of the Friends of the Altar. He had also been a member and past Grand Knight of the K of C, Council 2011.

Profiled in the Standard Times as the first grandfather/grandson Umpire Team, Mr. Bengford, along with his grandson Jeff, umpired for Wickford Little League. He was liked by everyone.

Besides his wife he is survived by his beloved children: Paula Laurenzo, Rev. Fr. Ronald Bengford, Pastor of St. Matthew Church, Cranston, and Renee Street; his adoring grandchildren: Jeffrey and Justin Street and Annemarie Laurenzo; and great grandchildren: Mason, Owen and William Heald. He also leaves siblings: Madeline, Mary-Jean, Margie and Norm. He was the father of the late Marcella Bengford, grandfather of the late Jonathan Street and Paul Laurenzo and brother of the late: Norbert, Alice, Willie, Ken, Tom, Bernie, Ted and Loretta.

A concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday at 11:00AM at St. Francis de Sales Church, School St., North Kingstown. Burial with military honors will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, West Greenwich. Calling hours: Tuesday 4-7PM at the Hill Funeral Home 822 Main St., East Greenwich. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Francis de Sales Church.