STATESBORO, Ga. -- Mr. Benjamin L. “Bennie” von Waldner, age 87, passed away on Tuesday morning, January 15, 2019, at his residence under the care of Regency SouthernCare Hospice.
Bennie was born on May 12, 1931, in Savannah, Georgia, to Frank Ferdinand von Waldner Sr. and Lottie Lee Cannon von Waldner.
He attended and graduated from Savannah High School in 1950. After high school, Bennie joined the 158th Fighter Bomb Squadron, Georgia Air National Guard, before marrying Sarah Carolyn Norman on May 21, 1951, in Ridgeland, South Carolina. He served as an airplane mechanic in Japan during the Korean Conflict.
After two years of service, he returned to Savannah, where he owned and operated a service station on Montgomery Crossroads and Waters Road.
Bennie and Carolyn moved to Statesboro in 1971. He worked for ITT Grinnell as well as Braswell’s Food Company for many years as a mechanic. He and his wife later owned and operated Ideal Cleaners, a dry cleaning business, where they ran it together until their retirement in 2002.
Bennie was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Statesboro, where he served as an elder, financial secretary and property chairman.
He was an avid Georgia Southern Eagles football and basketball team fan. He never missed a home game.
Bennie is preceded in death by his parents, a stepfather, Vance Wilson; and two brothers, Frank F. von Waldner Jr. and Harry J. von Waldner.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Carolyn; son, Mark (Trina) von Waldner of Athens, Georgia; daughter, Glynda von Waldner of Statesboro; and son, Todd (Cindy) von Waldner of Statesboro; six grandchildren, Davey (April) von Waldner, Derek (Molly Evan) von Waldner, Daniel (Kayla) von Waldner, Chris Crowe, Tiffany Williams and Natalie von Waldner; eight great-grandchildren and another great-grandson due in March. Also surviving are a sister, Cecile Joyner of Valdosta; sisters-in-law, Dottie von Waldner of Savannah and Helen von Waldner of Tucker; as well as many nieces and nephews.
The family will receive visitors on Thursday from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home in Statesboro.
The funeral will be held on Friday at 11 a.m. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church with Pastor Sam Clay officiating. The graveside service and burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Savannah on Friday at 2:30 p.m.
The family would like to extend their gratitude to Regency SouthernCare Hospice and to Debra Thomas of Nightingale Nursing Service for their care.
The family requests that memorial contributions be made to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 18098 Georgia Highway 67, Statesboro, Georgia 30458.
Friends may sign the online register book at www.joineranderson.com.
Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home & Crematory of Statesboro is in charge of the arrangements.
Statesboro Herald, January 16, 2019
Sign the Legacy online guestbook at www.statesboroherald.com.
Bennie was born on May 12, 1931, in Savannah, Georgia, to Frank Ferdinand von Waldner Sr. and Lottie Lee Cannon von Waldner.
He attended and graduated from Savannah High School in 1950. After high school, Bennie joined the 158th Fighter Bomb Squadron, Georgia Air National Guard, before marrying Sarah Carolyn Norman on May 21, 1951, in Ridgeland, South Carolina. He served as an airplane mechanic in Japan during the Korean Conflict.
After two years of service, he returned to Savannah, where he owned and operated a service station on Montgomery Crossroads and Waters Road.
Bennie and Carolyn moved to Statesboro in 1971. He worked for ITT Grinnell as well as Braswell’s Food Company for many years as a mechanic. He and his wife later owned and operated Ideal Cleaners, a dry cleaning business, where they ran it together until their retirement in 2002.
Bennie was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Statesboro, where he served as an elder, financial secretary and property chairman.
He was an avid Georgia Southern Eagles football and basketball team fan. He never missed a home game.
Bennie is preceded in death by his parents, a stepfather, Vance Wilson; and two brothers, Frank F. von Waldner Jr. and Harry J. von Waldner.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Carolyn; son, Mark (Trina) von Waldner of Athens, Georgia; daughter, Glynda von Waldner of Statesboro; and son, Todd (Cindy) von Waldner of Statesboro; six grandchildren, Davey (April) von Waldner, Derek (Molly Evan) von Waldner, Daniel (Kayla) von Waldner, Chris Crowe, Tiffany Williams and Natalie von Waldner; eight great-grandchildren and another great-grandson due in March. Also surviving are a sister, Cecile Joyner of Valdosta; sisters-in-law, Dottie von Waldner of Savannah and Helen von Waldner of Tucker; as well as many nieces and nephews.
The family will receive visitors on Thursday from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home in Statesboro.
The funeral will be held on Friday at 11 a.m. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church with Pastor Sam Clay officiating. The graveside service and burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Savannah on Friday at 2:30 p.m.
The family would like to extend their gratitude to Regency SouthernCare Hospice and to Debra Thomas of Nightingale Nursing Service for their care.
The family requests that memorial contributions be made to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 18098 Georgia Highway 67, Statesboro, Georgia 30458.
Friends may sign the online register book at www.joineranderson.com.
Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home & Crematory of Statesboro is in charge of the arrangements.
Statesboro Herald, January 16, 2019
Sign the Legacy online guestbook at www.statesboroherald.com.