Daryl A. Bender
Daryl A. Bender, 65, a Columbia City native, died at 12:18 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 8, 2018, at Parkview Regional Medical Center, Fort Wayne.
He was born Oct. 30, 1952, in Columbia City and his formative years were spent in Columbia City. He graduated from Columbia City Joint High School in 1971. He continued his education at the Career Academy in Columbus, Ohio, received his associate degree in human services from Ivy Tech and graduated magna cum laude.
He worked for R.R. Donnelley in Warsaw, Essex, Dana/C.F. Gomma, Belmont Beverage, Gordman’s and Kohl’s.
He enjoyed coaching baseball and basketball for his kids’ team during their younger years and liked helping troubled youth.
Surviving relatives include two children: Greg (Felicia Bellis) Bender of Fort Wayne; and Chelsea (Jason) Kuse of Columbia City; six grandchildren: Triceson Bender, Savannah Bender, Tayden Bender, Tillman Bender, Kennedy Kuse and Lincoln Kuse; his mother, Wilma Maxine (Day) Bender of Columbia City; and seven siblings: Charla (Pat) Higgins of Fort Wayne; Julie (Rick) Quiring of Decatur Texas; Kathy (Brian) Paseka of Columbia City; Charles L. (Anita) Bender of Larwill; Cheryl Kreider of South Bend; Alroy Kreider of Fort Wayne; and Marilyn (Chris) Roche of Demotte.
He was preceded in death by his biological father, Russell E. Kreider; his father, Charles I. Bender; a son, Tristan Bender; and a grandson, Trameon Bender.
The funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City with visitation from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. The burial will be in Greenhill Cemetery.
Preferred memorials are to the final expense account payable to Smith & Sons Funeral Home.