Barry Cyril Bender

September 16, 1940 - September 16, 2017

Barry Cyril Bender Sr., age 77, passed away Saturday afternoon, September 16, 2017 at the University of Utah Hospital from complications arising from Cirrhosis of the Liver. Barry was born on September 16, 1940 in Brooklyn New York, to his parent Cyril Titus Bender and Marie Louise LaTour Bender. He grew up in Brooklyn and Long Island, where he was a great help to his father and companion to his brother Bruce, who was three years his younger. In his memoirs, Barry describes himself as a good kid but a prankster at South High School, in Valley Stream, Long Island. He was a member of the Audio-Visual Aid Club and the Varsity Soccer Team. Barry’s Mother passed away suddenly during his senior year. Upon graduation, he was accepted and attended Syracuse University, but with money tight, he dropped out and joined the Army, where he was trained as a Land Surveyor and Combat Engineer. He did great in the Army, rising fast through the technical enlisted ranks and serving in White Sands, New Mexico, Libya and Iran, where he mapped much of the north half of this country. It was while serving in Iran that he contracted Hepatitis, which severely damaged his Liver, setting the stage for future Cirrhosis. While at White Sands, Barry joined the LDS church through the influence of his Army buddies. It was through his membership in the church that he met the Miller family and his future wife Donna, following his discharge from the army and return to Long Island. Although they would not be married at this time, they were on April 7, 1977, and would enjoy four decades together. Their wedding was later solemnized in the Los Angeles Temple on September 15, 1984. Settling in Southern California, Barry became a Licensed Civil Engineer and Registered Land Surveyor. He worked his way up to become a partner at Rick Engineering, and served on the Board of Directors of the San Diego County YMCA, and in several church callings. Later his career would take him to Las Vegas where from 1992 until his retirement in 2007 he opened several Civil Engineering offices and otherwise provided leadership in this field. He was also a community servant while participating in many Home Owner Associations Barry had a passion for mountain country and located a lot north of Panguitch Lake to build his dream log cabin. This was completed in 1990 and has been the location of many Bender Thanksgivings, Christmas’, summer vacations and family reunions over the years. After his retirement, Barry and Donna lived at the cabin for two years, satisfying one of his bucket-list items! Cabin time included fishing, boating, snow skiing, snowmobiling, ATV riding, and lots of wood chopping. Barry served as a volunteer on the Panguitch Lake Fire Department, where he served on the Board. Barry also had a deep love for his children, and aided their development by becoming their soccer coach and assistant Scout leader. He also helped them on their paper routes, other jobs and annually took them on boating and snow skiing adventures. His commitment to them included providing for their education, missions and many other needs. Donna was the love of his life. They enjoyed dancing at work parties, skiing across the Rockies, and motor homing and global travel. Later in life, they supported each other through various health and employment struggles, that only seemed to strengthen their bonds of affection. Barry and Donna relocated to Provo exactly a year ago and have been loved and supported by their friends at “Trellis on the Green” and the Pleasant View Second Ward. Barry is survived by his wife Donna Bernice Bender; children Trevor Jay Bender (Sally), Daniel Wayne Bender (Tina), Kristin Merle Smoot (Harlow), and Barry Cyril Bender Jr. (Mary); and 18 Grandchildren. Barry was proceeded in death by his daughter, Kimberly Joy Golden MacKay (Eric), his parents, Cyril Titus Bender and Marie Louise LaTour Bender, and his brother Bruce Kenneth Bender. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, September 23, 2017 at 1:00 pm at the Pleasant View 2nd Ward, 650 E. Stadium Ave., Provo, Utah, where a Viewing will be held prior to services from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. Flowers should be sent to arrive between 10:00am and 11:00am that day. *************************************************************************************************************** We have become aware that the street in front of the chapel is completely blocked by road construction. One can only access the building through the back entrance, as follows: -Travel East on East University Parkway -Near the BYU Marriot Center, turn left (north) on 500 East -This road meanders to the right and becomes East Sumac Avenue -The LDS Pleasant View Second Ward Building is the last driveway on the right **************************************************************************************************************** In lieu of flowers, donations may be made directly to any of the Hurricane Relief Funds, with the LDS Church Humanitarian fund recommended. Interment in Provo City Cemetery, 610 South State Street, Provo, Utah. Military honors will be rendered by the United States Army. Funeral Directors: Utah Valley Mortuary