Richard Antioco Benavides, Jr.

 Master Gunnery Sergeant, USMC Retired, left us on Nov. 30 to report for duty standing guard at the gates of Heaven. Funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 8 at Autry Funeral Home Chapel, Frankston. Burial will follow at Garden Oaks Memorial Cemetery, Berryville. Benavides was born Sept. 26, 1930, in Dallas to Richard Antioco Benavides, Sr. and Mary Rose Ortega. Benny joined the United States Marine Corps in March of 1950, retiring 30 years later in June of 1980. After leaving the Marine Corps, Benny worked in the Civil Service industry until retiring in 1993 and moving to Berryville. Since his retirement, he has been an active member of the V.F.W. post 5073 in Frankston TX and American Veterans Chapter 125 Berryville. He was a lifetime member of the Marine league “Piney Woods Detachment” and has been an active member of the Hilltop Baptist Church in Berryville. Richard is survived by his Beloved Wife, Betty, formerly of Fairfield; sisters Vi and Debra Franklin of Santa Maria, Ca., and MaryAnn Jordan, Berryville; sons; Richard D. Benavides, Sr. and wife Mim of Arlington., Michael and wife Angie of Fla.; step- daughters, Vanessa Smith and husband Bryan of Fairfield, Stephanie Hillman and husband Gene of Montalba; niece, Dana Large and husband Monte of Berryville; nephew, Albert Benavides and wife Rhonda and children; grand-daughters, Michelle Bottoms and Lisa Neptune of Fairfield, Anita of Ca. and Andrea of ND; grandsons, Phillip Aiken of Dallas, Aaron Neptune and Wife Amy of Fairfield and Great-grandson, Adam Neptune. He was preceded in death by his wives, Lois, Lucille and grandson, Richard D Benavides Jr. The family will receive visitors Friday, Dec. 7 from 6-8 p.m. at Autry Funeral Home, Frankston. Published in the Jacksonville Daily Progress from 12/6/2007 - 12/7/2007.