Wellsville, NY - Clarence H. "Clancy" Benz, born Feb. 18, 1930, in Orchard Park, son of Edward and Emma (Thiel) Benz, died Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010.
A 1947 graduate of Orchard Park High School, he served in the U. S. Army from 1953-1955, which included time in Japan in the Signal Corps. He worked for Bell Telephone Company starting in 1955 until his retirement from Verizon in 1992.
He was married on May 4, 1968 to his beloved wife Mary (Walsh), who survives. He is also survived by four sons, William (Andrea) Benz of Buffalo; Joseph (Roxanne) Benz of Durham, NC; Robert (Kimberly) Benz of Corning and Martin (Cristin) Benz of Chaffee, two brothers, Howard Benz of Hamburg; Gerald (Margaret) Benz of Lancaster; three, sisters Evelyn Benz of Williamsville; Dorothy (Bernard) Perl of Varysburg and Alice (Richard) Graffeo of West Seneca; sisters-in-law Alice Benz of Hamburg; Shirley Benz of Hamburg; Patricia Walsh of Tucson, Az.; Jane Walsh of Wellsville. Grandchildren Haley, Gianna, Lilian, Terrence, Nathan, Emma Benz and Thomas Rogers as well as several nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends.
He was predeceased by brothers Raymond of Orchard Park; Lee of Hamburg; and Norbert of West Seneca; sister-in-law Doris Benz of Hamburg; brothers-in-law James Walsh of Tucson, Az., and Robert Walsh of Wellsville.
Clancy grew up on his family farm and enjoyed farm work throughout his life. He loved the Immaculate Conception Fun Fair and worked at it before, during and after for 30 years, enjoying every minute. He also enjoyed watching high school and grade school athletics. Clancy volunteered with Meals on Wheels and Mercy Associates.
Friends are invited to call on Tuesday from 2:00 to 4:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 pm and Wednesday from 10:00 to 10:30 am at the J. W. Embser Sons Funeral Home Inc. in Wellsville. The Rosary will be recited on Tuesday at 3:45 pm in the funeral home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, December 22, 2010 at 11:00 am at the Immaculate Conception Church in Wellsville with Monsignor Vincent Becker as celebrant. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Wellsville. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Immaculate Conception School or the charity of donor's choice. To leave online condolences, please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.