Garry Edward Benson of Lompoc passed away peacefully on June 25, 2021, at the age of 90 at Lorie's Residential Care Facility in Santa Maria, California.

He was born on March 4, 1931, to Newton and Marjorie Williams Benson in Santa Barbara California. He liked to brag that he was born in Cottage Hospital when it was just a small, one story facility. His parents separated when he was a young boy, and his care was left in the hands of his father and paternal grandmother. He suffered from severe asthma as a child, causing him to miss significant school time. Doctors recommended a move to a dryer climate in Arizona to benefit his health. Instead, in 1939, his father became the game warden at Goleta Beach where they lived until \ordered to evacuate from the coast as WWII began. Garry took to the water and became a proficient swimmer and fisherman. He also enjoyed paddling around the Goleta Slough in his rowboat with his dog as a passenger. Surprisingly, his asthma subsided and was kept under control the rest of his life. In the late 1940s, Garry's family moved to Los Alamos, where he recalled playing pool in the Union Hotel and participating in dismantling buggies and reassembling them on the Post Office roof at Halloween. He attended Olga Reed School and after graduating from the eighth grade, attended Santa Maria High School, graduating in 1950. He subsequently attended Santa Maria Junior College (now Allan Hancock College) for two years. In 1952, Garry joined the Army and served in Korea and Japan. He obtained sharpshooter status and was recognized for his role as a radio communications specialist. He remembered his service fondly, except for the snow and the 30 degrees below zero temperatures. Once discharged, he never had the desire to be in snow again.

Upon his discharge in 1954, he was employed by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department and moved to Lompoc. A couple of years later, he was hired by the City of Lompoc Fire Department. It was while he was employed there that he met his future wife who worked at Miller's Pharmacy in downtown Lompoc. She caught his eye as she passed the fire station walking to and from work every day. On duty fire personnel noted his interest and alerted him whenever they spotted her walking toward the station. A mutual interest in each other grew and Garry was smitten. In 1960 he and Gail Headrick were married in the Methodist Church in Lompoc.

Garry continued his career with the City of Lompoc as an electrical lineman and later as Electrical Estimator. After 34 years of service, he retired to enjoy a life of camping with Gail, first in tents, then later in campers and motor homes. Then they discovered dog shows and began showing Papillons throughout California. Their adventures resulted in making lifelong friends in the dog show world. Showing the dogs was Gail's duty. Garry went along as the "shlepper" of equipment and supplies until, at one show, two of their dogs were scheduled to be shown at the same time. He had no idea what to do, but promptly took one of the dogs, entered the ring and bravely trotted around leading the tiny pup. The first time out, he had a winner! From then on, he showed a dog whenever he had the opportunity.

He had a lifelong interest in trains and amassed a collection of HO scale train engines and cars as well as model buildings he built from kits. He maintained a layout in his garage that he designed to be raised into the rafters to allow room for an automobile. Once the car was gone, he could lower the tracks and play with his trains. He always enjoyed the sounds of whistles and bells of the trains coming and going up the tracks one block from his house on their way to the Celite plant.

Garry was preceded in death by his parents and his wife. He is survived by his fur baby Cowboy (the last of the Papillons), brother-in-law Dennis Headrick of Lompoc and adopted daughter Carla Harrison (Larry), adopted granddaughters Maegan and Caity and her son Mikey, all of Georgia.

A huge thank you goes to the nurses and doctors at the Lompoc Valley Medical Center and Marian Regional Medical Center. Special recognition goes to Kelli Cox and Samantha Tatum at Marian Medical Center and the staff at Lorie's Residential Care Facility for their compassion, expertise and guidance for Garry's seamless continued care.

Memorial donations may be made to the Lompoc Valley Historical Society, P.O. Box 88, Lompoc, CA 93438

No services are planned at this time.

Arrangements are under the direction of Starbuck-Lind Mortuary