Elizabeth Ann Benson

Elizabeth Ann Benson, 94, of Jefferson, Ohio passed away from cancer peacefully at her home on the morning of Sunday, March 30, 2025, with her four children at her bedside. Ann was born to Allen Britton and Mildred (Bailey) on January 22,1931 in the Baby Hospital right there in Andover, Ohio. Her younger sister Louise recalled that they were in 4-H sewing and went to Niagara Falls together as children. She graduated from Andover High School in 1949 and attended Nursing School at City Hospital in Cleveland and got her Cap in 1950. She then worked for Dr. Crittenden in Andover for several years. She met her future husband, Edwin "Noel" Benson, and they married on May 31, 1953. Ann then worked at Timken until she had her first child and her and Noel lived in the small house that Noel built east of Jefferson in Denmark Township just south of the Benson Family farm. She loved raising her children on the farm. The kids rode the ponies, go-cart, dirt bikes, drove tractors and had the daily chores on the dairy farm. She also enjoyed watching the neighborhood kids play softball, in the ball field next to the house. Ann liked baking breads, rolls, cookies and pies for her family and friends and enjoyed canning and freezing fresh produce throughout the year. She especially loved "Christmas Pie" made by her special friend Kathy Arilson. Family gatherings were always special to Ann, especially in her younger years when everyone would get together on Friday nights for Homemade Pizza at her mom and dads' home along with both sisters and their families. Ann was able to occasionally travel with her husband to his jobs. In July of 1972, the family all traveled to Bogota, Columbia South America where Noel installed soundproof recording studios at the American Embassy. In 1972, when returning from South America, Ann assisted her husband in operating a dairy farm up till 1980. In 1980, Ann traveled with her husband throughout the country, when Noel worked for his younger brother Jack on construction of soundproof aircraft test facilities (hush houses) for the USAF for testing fighter jets. She enjoyed her yearly summer trips with family to the cottage on Middle Bass Island in Lake Erie where she loved to attend the yearly Barber Shop Quartet shows on the island. Ann traveled to Europe with her mother to visit her daughter Susan who was enlisted in the Airforce and stationed in Germany. They all traveled together by Euro rail to see other countries on their visit. On another trip, Ann traveled with Susan to Hawaii and Cancun. She also traveled on her own to Maryland to help take care of her grandkids while her son and wife were in China, adopting their kids. Ann and Noel took dance lessons and enjoyed square dancing, barn dances and really enjoyed a good polka or a waltz. She also bought her own organ and enjoyed learning to play it. She was a Member of Eastern Star, and the local Farm Bureau Council Home meetings. She sold Avon Products and was a Presiding Judge and Poll Worker for Denmark Township for many years. Ann raised sheep and dairy heifers and took her kids to the County Fair where she showed them. Ann loved to learn new things and took American Sign Language Classes at the Vocational School and volunteered at Pierpont Elementary School helping the children with their reading. She loved solving sudoku puzzles, picture puzzles and playing card games. Ann would use the zero-turn mower to keep up with the lawn, and last summer at 93 years of age she still considered it her job to keep up with the grass. For the past year, her daughter Susan was the main caregiver and was with Ann until she peacefully passed away. She was preceded in death by her husband Noel in 2002; her parents Allen and Mildred Britton; her husband's parents, Julius and Florence Benson; several sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, aunts and uncles, and a nephew and cousins. Ann is survived by her children, Jean and her husband Bill Thompson of Jefferson, Ohio, Susan Benson of Jefferson, Ohio, Kevin and his wife Joan Benson of West Melbourne, Florida and Brad and his wife Bonnie Benson of Jefferson, Ohio; grandchildren, Justin and Amy Thompson, Adam and Claire Thompson, Zach and Jess Thompson, Amber and Alan Roane, Ashley Stoneman (Ricky Simcic), Claire and Bethany Benson, Kathryn, Juliana, Kristina and John Benson, Kurt and Rebecca West, Jason and Kari West; great-grandchildren, Ashlyn Thompson, Hayden and Austin Thompson, Madelyn Bridinger, Ellery Thompson, Eliana and Riley West; Ann's two sisters, Jane Platt and Louise Delmul and their families; her 2 sisters-in-law, Suzanne Benson and Phyllis Arner and their families. She is also survived by many cousins. The family extends a special “Thank You” to the Ashtabula Team members of Hospice of the Western Reserve for their compassion and kindness and to family and friends for all the support through this difficult time. She has requested no public services. A Celebration of Life will be held this coming Summer at the Benson/Evans family reunion in July. Lake Erie Cremation and Funeral Services, 1500 Harpersfield Road, Geneva, Ohio assisted the family with arrangements. www.LakeErieCrematory.com

Elizabeth Ann Benson

January 22, 1931 - March 30, 2025