Raymond Roy Bender-US Army-Vietnam War Veteran

Raymond Roy Bender was born to Margaret and Roy Bender in Los Angeles California,  August 11,1944. He was the middle child of their 3 children. In his early years, his  family moved to Anaheim California which became the city he considered his  hometown. He spoke fondly of his childhood there as a place where a kid could ride his  bike with a .22 across the handle bars and could raise chickens and goats among the  Orange groves. He graduated high school at Anaheim High in 1961. While in high  school he had a summer job in a family print shop and he continued to work in the  printing industry after high school.

Raymond’s father passed away in 1965 and he was drafted into service with the US  Army within months of his passing. He served combat duty with the 66th MP Corps in  the Vietnam from May of 1966 through May of 1967. His experience strongly shaped  the person he was and and was to become.

Shortly after discharge form the Army, Raymond married his high-school sweetheart,  Nancy Dee Chism of Oakland CA, and the two of them produced two children: James  Roy Bender (1968) and Daniel Ray Bender (1972) both born in Anaheim CA. The  couple later divorced in 1975.

Raymond remarried in 1979 to Nancy Mahan (born 1950 in Puerto Rico during Military  Service of her father). The new couple relocated to Lafayette CA with Raymond’s two  sons in the Northern part of the state to continue his career in the printing industry.  There they raised the two boys into adulthood.

As empty-nesters the couple relocated to Fairfield CA and enjoyed extensive travel as  their careers wound down. They also enjoyed time with their young grandchildren  during this period, James C. Bender and Ciara F. Bender.

Upon retirement they continued their travels and Raymond became very active with the  Disabled American Veterans charity association. He derived great satisfaction in  donating his time and energy helping Disabled Veterans obtain and utilize their benefits.

Following Nancy’s death in 2017, Raymond relocated to Homosassa Florida to a home  the two had purchased together as their final retirement residence. There he enjoyed a  welcoming, warm, and fun community for his final years.

Raymond will be remembered for his charming personality, his crystal blue eyes and his  warm smile, his zest for life and indomitable spirit, his friendly disposition and his Love  for family and friends which he shared freely. People frequently said that Raymond  Bender never met a stranger.