Edward A Bender

Reverend Edward A. Bender, 89, Inverness, went to be with our Lord on January 6, 2015. He was born on April 1, 1925 in Taylor, Pennsylvania to Edward and Jeanette Bender. He served his country in the Army Air Force in World War II. He graduated from Open Bible Institute in Des Moines, Iowa in 1953. He taught in Florida Bible Institute in St. Petersburg, Florida. He later was Dean of the School of Faith in Tampa, Florida. Reverend Bender’s more than 50 years of ministry consisted mostly of a traveling evangelist, yet he did conventional ministry and ministry to skid row as well. He took young people to Jamaica and Haiti to build churches and conducted crusades and tent meetings in Trinidad, Jamaica and Haiti. He pastored in La Cross, Wisconsin, Macon, Georgia, Streator, Illinois, Clearwater, Florida, Dunedin, Florida, Cameron, Wisconsin and White Plains, New York. He retired in 2003 from the First Assembly of God in Homosassa, Florida, as founder, builder and pastor after 20 years of ministry there. He loved studying the Bible and preaching. Even after retirement, he would fill in at churches as needed and also taught Sunday school. When he wasn’t ministering, he found time to do woodwork and carpentry which he really enjoyed. He also had his private pilot’s license. He was a kind, loving husband, father and grandfather and will be missed by all as he was loved by all.
Left to cherish his memory is his loving wife of 68 years, Lucille Cox Bender, formerly of Des Moines, Iowa; one son Jeffery (Jean) Bender of Oxford, Mississippi; one daughter Karen (Greg) Gouge of Lake Park, Georgia, 6 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. A Funeral Service of Remembrance will be held on Friday, January 9, 2014 at 10:00 AM at First Assembly of God Church. Burial will follow at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell with military honors. The family will receive friends in visitation from 9:00 AM until the hour of service. Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home with Crematory is assisting the family with arrangements.