Winifred "Winnie" Benton

Winifred "Winnie" Benton, 70, of Blytheville, passed away Saturday morning at Gosnell Healthcare. She was born September 29, 1942 to William and Elizabeth Johnston. She was a member of First Christian Church where she had served as a Deaconess.

Winnie was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and was the 6th of 7 children. The house was so small that she and her brother had to eat on the stairs - there wasn't enough room at the table. As a child she loved swinging on the lamppost (which kept her in trouble), she liked to climb trees, play field hockey and soccer.
Later, she worked for a company that made radios, and she moved to Germany with that company, where she met her first husband, who was in the US Army. She went back to Ireland to have her only child, Michelle, and came to America when Michelle was only 3 months old. She didn't drive until she was 50 years old so she had to walk to run errands and buy groceries.
She later went to work for Timex, where she met Buddy Benton. When Timex moved their Tool & Die section to China, Buddy retired, and they moved to Blytheville to be near their grandchildren, Jordan and Cole Hardy. Buddy had no living relatives, and her family is in Ireland, so Bill and Clorita Hardy graciously took them in as part of their family. She and Buddy celebrated their 31st wedding anniversary in May 2011 before he went to be with the Lord in July 2011. Winnie also worked in a school cafeteria, but most recently she enjoyed babysitting in her home.

She loved to read, and she loved her dogs, but more than anything she loved her daughter and grandchildren.

Her friends have fond memories of her. One said, "I just loved hearing her talk!". Another said, "she was a wonderful person, she was a great people person, always smiling, and she had a sweet spirit."

Winnie is predeceased by her husband, Walter Franklin "Buddy" Benton; her parents; and some siblings.

She is survived by her daughter, Michelle Hardy; her granddaughter, Jordan Hardy; her grandson, Cole Hardy; and some siblings in Ireland.

Visitation will be Sunday 4:00-6:00 pm at Carney Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral services will be Monday at 10:00 am at Carney Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Tommy Carney officiating. Burial in Carney Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Blytheville Prayer Garden at First Christian Church or to charity of choice.

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