William Anthony Benn

Tony Benn, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and uncle, went to live with the Lord on Thursday, September 15, 2016 at the age of 94. He was a wonderful, God-fearing man and the perfect role model of husband and father. Tony was born in Jamaica on June 24, 1922 to Jean and Novar Benn. At 2½, the family moved to New Zealand where they lived until he was 5 when the family returned to Jamaica - he was sent to school in England. At 13 he was enrolled at Dartmouth Royal Naval College where he attended classes and was a peer of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh (they got into their fair share of mischief together at Dartmouth!). Upon graduation from Dartmouth in March 1940 he joined the British Royal Navy and served the rest of WW2 on both destroyers and submarines. While on shore-leave in Troon, Scotland, he met his wife to be, Suzanne Thom. They were married on February 15, 1947. After the war Tony and ‘Sue-Sue’ returned to the family property in Portland, Jamaica and began their adventures in farm life where they had a thriving (export) banana plantation and grew citrus, Blue Mountain coffee, coconuts, started a successful poultry business, raised cattle … and 5 children! (4 daughters and a son). He was active in the community he loved, as a member of the local church his father built and as Justice of the Peace as was his father before him. Due to political unrest in Jamaica, they sailed their yacht ‘Lady Kate’ to the Cayman Islands in 1977 and lived on-board, chartering their sailboat to tourists. In 1978, they sailed Lady Kate from Grand Cayman to Galveston, Texas and on to Kemah. Ending up feeling right at home settling in East Texas, raising poultry and cattle in the San Augustine area, leading a full and happy life there for many years. Tony and Sue retired to Houston to be near their children and grandchildren and developed a long and meaningful relationship with their church and their many cherished friends at St. John’s Presbyterian Church. Tony is survived by his beloved wife of 69½ years, Sue; his children, Sheila (Christopher) Davies; (William) Plant; Valerie Noons; Penny (Allen) Fletcher and Dorian (Kathy) Benn, 12 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. His daughter Patricia Plant and granddaughters, Nicola Davies and Bianca Noons, were there to welcome him into Heaven. Tony will be deeply missed by his loving family and many friends - Daddy we miss you, you will be in our hearts until we see you again. A celebration of ‘life and love’ service and reception will be held on October 8, 2016 from 4:00p.m. - 6:00p p.m. at: St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 5020 West Belfort Blvd, Houston, Texas 77035. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the following in his name: St. John’s Presbyterian Church OR 5020 West Belfort Blvd Houston, Texas 77035 The Covenant House 111 Lovett Blvd Houston, Texas 77006