Alpha Starks Bender

April 22, 1922 - December 17, 2017

Alpha Starks Bender, at the age of 95, passed away in her sleep, at her home, in Cedar Hills, Utah, on Sunday, December 17, 2017. She was born April 22, 1922 in Clearfield, Utah, to Ellis Washington Starks and Alice Novella Pearl Perry. Alpha was the sixth of seven children and the youngest of four girls. As a child, she had fun playing kick the can, fox and geese, hide and go seek, run sheep run, tag, and going barefoot in the deep sand of the street that ran past her house. Growing up, she had many adventures in her small town and traveling to Texas, Arkansas, and Wyoming, on the train, to visit relatives. After graduating high school, Alpha went to Weber College. In 1941 she moved to California and met Clair Glines Bender. They were married in 1942, in Las Vegas, Nevada. In 1943, they had a son, Norman, and in 1947, they had a daughter, Cheryl. During her husband's military service, she had the opportunity to live in Florida, Washington State, and Utah, before settling in California to raise their children. Before her children were born, Alpha was a housekeeper, a nanny, a car-hop, worked at a root beer stand called The Barrel, and worked at Lockheed. After her children were grown, she worked at a bank and then as a bookkeeper. During her life, Alpha was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She has served as a Relief Society Treasurer, a Relief Society President, an Education Councilor in the Stake Relief Society, served under five different Stake Relief Society Presidents in many different callings, and served on the committee to assist all the single sisters, the “Solos”, in her ward. She also served as a Temple Ordinance Worker and as an Assistant Supervisor in the Los Angeles Temple and as an Ordinance Worker in the Jordan River Temple. She felt very blessed to go on a church history tour to visit Boston, Palmyra, Nauvoo, Kirkland, Independence, and visit the Sacred Grove. Alpha’s husband passed away unexpectedly in 1987. They were married and sealed for time and all eternity. After 30 years, they are finally reunited. Alpha is survived by 2 children, 12 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren, and 7 great-great-grandchildren. She has had a long, full life. You will be dearly missed Grandma GG. Funeral Services will be held Friday, December 22nd at 7:00 pm at Utah Valley Mortuary, 1966 West 700 North, Lindon, Utah, where a Viewing will take place prior from 6:00 to 6:45 pm. She will be laid to rest next to her eternal companion at Forest Lawn-Hollywood Hills Memorial Park, 6300 Forest Lawn Drive, Los Angeles, CA on Wednesday, December 27th at 11:00 am. Funeral Directors: Utah Valley Mortuary.