from the USTA Communications Department

Columbus, OH — Wilmer “Bud” Benner, 89, of Holland and formerly of Dublin and Bloomsburg, Pa., died August 29, 2013, in St. Mary Medical Center, Langhorne, Pa.

Born in Dublin, Pa., he was the son of the late Henry Sr. and Anna (Scheetz) Benner. He appeared on the front cover of the Saturday Evening Post on July 13, 1946, modeling his blacksmith trade.

He was the husband of 65 years of the late Grace (Harner) Benner, who died Aug. 1, 2008.

In 1949, Mr. Benner relocated his wife and children to Westbury, Long Island, N.Y., where he was a fifth generation blacksmith, servicing Roosevelt Raceway in the warm months and relocating his family in the winter months to service Ben White Raceway in Orlando, Fla.

In 1985, the Benners built their retirement home and lived in Bloomsburg for the next 27 years.

In May 2013, Mr. Benner’s eyesight failed him, and he moved back to Bucks County to be close to his children, at which time he moved into Twining Village.

He was a member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Danville, Pa., and the USTA.

He is survived by his daughters, Grace Riondet, Marion (Stephen) Cowdery, Dawn (Frederick) Dudash, Robin Chasnov, Wilma (Philip) Klevan and Brenda Burke; son, Budd (Gail); 11 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and a brother, Henry Jr. (Lois). In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by a son-in-law, Gary Chasnov; and sisters, Virginia Myers and Alma Turner.

His funeral services will be held Wednesday (Sept. 4) at 12 Noon in St. Peter’s Tohickon United Church of Christ, 1071 Old Bethlehem Road, Perkasie, PA, where family and friends may call from 10 a.m. until service time. Interment will follow in St. Luke’s Union Cemetery, Dublin, Pa.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 727 Columbia Hill Road, Danville, PA 17821, or to the Millville Senior Center, 380 S. State St., Millville, PA 17846.

Arrangements are by the Bernard Suess Funeral Home, 606 Arch Street, Perkasie.