Wilbur ‘Gene’ Benson

Wilbur Eugene Benson, 79, of Stillwater, died Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024.

Funeral services were Aug. 23 at the Stillwater First Presbyterian Church. Strode Funeral Home and Cremation was in charge of the arrangements.

Gene was born to Wilbur Nathan and Virginia Carmen (Mitchell) Benson on June 19,1945, in Kingfisher.

He attended Dover Public School from the first grade until he graduated in 1963.

After graduation, he attended Oklahoma State University. While attending, he met and married Ann Marie Williams.

In 1967, he graduated with a degree in agricultural education.

His first job after graduation was vocational agriculture teaching position at Coyle Public Schools. He taught there for two years before accepting the principal job at Mulhall-Orlando Public Schools. He held this position for four years.

Throughout his life, he farmed and raised livestock. He was also in the custom harvesting business for 12 years.

After his endeavors in the harvest business, he returned to his true love of education.

He became the principal of Coyle Public Schools and was the principal until 1993.

He then returned to serve his hometown as the school superintendent of Dover Public Schools.

After his retirement from public school systems, Gene and Ann worked Southern Region Board as authors and educators.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents; wife Ann; brother Kenny and grandson Brady Benson.

He is survived by his companion Phyllis Harp; son Brian and wife Brooke, Coyle; sister Connie and husband Clint Bailey, Dover; brother-in-law John and wife Kay Williams, Coyle; brother-in-law Jim and wife Ruth, Coyle; sister- in-law Debbie Benson, Dover; and several nieces and nephews.