Leslie William (Les) Benham
1922-2018
Leslie William Benham passed away at the Grand Manan Nursing
Home on Sunday, November 18, 2018. He was born in Galt,
Ontario, on April 29, 1922, the son of William Charles and Mabel
(Hays) Benham.
After graduating from high school, Les went to work at the
Canada Machinery Corporation in the drafting room. In 1942,
intrigued by the workings of aircraft engines, he persauded the Royal
Canadian Air Force to take him in even though he was
underweight. As an engine mechanic, between 1942 and 1945 he
travelled to various stations across Canada from
Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec to Fort St. John, B.C., where he was
part of an aerial photo squadron.
His later career was with Babcock & Wilcox, where he
supervised the boilmaker’s spare parts department, including the
transition of all the recordkeeping to the department’s first
computers.
He married Lois Dakin in 1950. They were active
members of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church until their move to Grand
Manan in 1995.
Besides his draftsman’s training, art and creative pursuits
were always part of Les’s life. He drew cartoons for the Air Force’s
No.9 Repair Depot newsletter and played saxophone in the
band. At various times he did palette knife paintings,
pen-and-ink, and watercolours. After early retirement he
devoted much time to leather work and then wood carving, making
candlesticks on a lathe. Over 600 of his wooden duck decoys
were sold to a candy shop to decorate their gift boxes. He
enjoyed photography and along with Lois, was a member of the Galt
Camera Club and Colour Photographic Association of Canada, often
shooting competition-winning slides.
After moving to Grand Manan, he continued to create art and
wooden gift items, which he sold for several years at the farmers’
market, again alongside Lois. They co-authoured two
published children’s books and self-published a couple
more.
Les was pre-deceased by his parents, William and Mabel, an
infant sister, Marion, his wife Lois, and fur babies Dixie and
Eliza. He is survived by his daughter Arlene Benham of Grand
Manan.
There will be visitation Tuesday, November 20, 2018 at Ells
Funeral Home from 7-9PM. Funeral service will be held from
Ells Funeral Home November 21, 2018 at 1:30 Pm, with Rev. Archdeacon
Gregg officiating. Interment to follow in Maple Grove
Cemetery.
Donations may be made to the Grand Manan Nursing Home,
Hospital Foundation or Grand Manan Animal Welfare
League.
Funeral arrangements in care of Ells Funeral Home Inc., 1199
Route 776, Grand Manan, NB, E5G 1G2. Condolences and
messages of sympathy may be sent to www.ells.ca or
506-662-3116.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Leslie William Les Benham 19222018..
Death notice for the town of: Grand Manan, Province: Nouveau-Brunswick