September 3, 2023
Elizabeth E. (Beth) Bender of The Villages, Florida, passed away on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, at Cornerstone Hospice in The Villages.
She is survived by her husband, John T. (Tom) Bender, having celebrated their 50th anniversary in September, 2022; brother, Jim (Yuki) Downey, of Mobile, Alabama; and seven children in her blended family: Will (Jen) Sherwood, MD, of Smithville, Tenn; Bob (Jen) Sherwood of Centerville, Ohio; Rick Sherwood of Cincinnati; Jim Bender, Betsy Slone, Sarah (Mike) Bender, and Amy (Fred) Dunlea, all of Cincinnati; and many nieces and nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Born in North Judson, Indiana, the daughter of Janet (Bill Hebson) and Richard M. Downey (Helen), she was a graduate of Purdue University. Something of a basketball fanatic, she was fiercely loyal to the Purdue basketball team. She was an active member of the Delta Gamma sorority alumnae group in the Villages.
Beth was a quilter, and co-owned a quilt shop in West Chester, Ohio, for several years. After moving to Florida, she became a member of the Quilting B’s chapter of The Villages Quilt Guild. She won a number of prizes for her quilting and served as president of the Guild. Her children and grandchildren have many “Grandma Beth” quilts; precious keepsakes that will be lovingly passed down to future generations.
Beth, along with Tom, was a dedicated member of the Mystery Lovers Book Club of The Villages.
Beth also was for many years the keeper of the communication list for “the Weaties,” residents of the Weaton Court area of The Village of Glenbrook, a task that helped keep neighbors in touch.
Beth contributed to a number of charities, most in support of children.
A “Remembrance of Beth’s Life” will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, October 7, in the Silver Oaks meeting room of the Saddlebrook Recreation Center in The Villages.
Her ashes will be scattered in a field of sunflowers on Dr. Sherwood’s farm.