Obituary of Cora Alice Benning

Cora Alice (Plummer) Benning, 102, went to be with the Lord on June 4, 2017, at Windsor Place in Coffeyville, Kansas. 

Cora was born April 27, 1915, in Coffeyville, KS. to Lawrence “Del” and Clara Mabel (Hedrick) Plummer.  She attended school in Coffeyville, graduating from Coffeyville Senior High School and Coffeyville Business College.  On February 6, 1937, Cora married William H. Benning at Holy Name Catholic Church.  They owned a farm East of Coffeyville in Labette County, where she helped with the farm and they operated a dairy for many years.  They were blessed with 57 years of marriage.  William passed away on February 28, 1994.

Cora worked for J.W. Hiebert Ins. Co. for several years before working at Continental Can.  Cora was a kind and generous woman that spent much of her time and energy as a homemaker, caregiver, and friend to her family.  She was a member of Holy Name Catholic Church and Valeda Friendly Neighbors.  She enjoyed quilting and sewing; playing scrabble and card games with family; watching baseball games on television, but especially going to her grandchildren’s baseball and softball games; and many years of dancing with William. 

Cora leaves behind a family that she loved and cherished and will remember her always with joy in their hearts.  She is survived by her daughter, Kathy (Donnie) Garber; daughter-in-law Sharon Benning; grandchildren, Dee (Danny) Hepola, Kim Benning, Kate (Robert) Greer, Keith (Julie) Garber, Kristi (Stephen) Ditmer; great grandchildren, Allen Hepola, Krista Greer, Amber (Caleb) Bechtle, Megan Benning, Rylee Greer, Tyler Benning, Ryan, Corey, and Nathan Ditmer; great great grandchildren, Allen Hepola; and sister Mary Ellen Todd and many loving friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband, William H. Benning; her sons, William Deloran and Kenneth Benning; her daughter, Clara Louise Benning; her parents, Lawrence “Del” and Clara Mabel (Hedrick) Plummer; her sister Elsie Kaufman Stryker; her brothers, Charles Albert and Ivan Claire Plummer; and an infant great grandson Aaron Hepola.

A Rosary Vigil service will be at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 7, 2017, at Holy Name Catholic Church.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 8th at Holy Name Catholic Church with Father Chad Arnold officiating. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery.

Friends may call on Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the David W. Barnes Funeral Home in Coffeyville. The family will receive friends on Wednesday from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Holy Name Catholic Church prior to the Rosary.

The family suggests memorials in her honor to either St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Shriners Hospital for Children.