Extracted from The Ponca City News (Ponca City, OK)
Sunday, December 27, 1998

Merle Virginia Benton

Merle Virginia Benton, longtime Ponca City resident, died Friday, Dec. 25, 1998, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. She was 93.

The funeral will be held Monday, Dec. 28, 1998, at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church Chapel. Burial will be in Odd Fellows Cemetery under the direction of Trout Funeral Home. There will be no viewing at the church; however, friends may call at the funeral home until 12:30 p.m. Monday.

Merle Virginia Benton was born Aug. 12, 1905, in Stewart County, Tenn., to Alonzo James and Frances Viola (White) Bogard. On April 25, 1926, she married James Howard Benton in Clarksville, Tenn. They came to Ponca City in 1939 from Nashville, Tenn. She was employed as a sales clerk for Drake's Jewelry and later for Walker Drug Store. Her husband preceded her in death on July 13, 1982. She was a member of First Baptist Church. She liked antiques.

She is survived by a brother, Bob Bogard of San Antonio, Texas; and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church, 218 S. Sixth, Ponca City, OK 74601.