Charles Wayne Bender, 69, of Wildwood, died Thursday, April 2, 2015.  He was born on January 30, 1946, in Texas City, the son of Dora and Jack McWhirter.  Wayne was a United States Navy veteran having served in Vietnam and was retired with Stewart and Stevenson in Houston as project manager.

Wayne and Lynn married May 10, 1997, and were just shy of celebrating eighteen wonderful years together.  Wayne was a lifetime member of VFW Post 1514, Wildwood-Village Mills and traveled all over world for Stewart Stevenson. He was an avid golfer and served as past president of Wildwood Men’s Golf Association. He was always quick-witted and king of the one liners; but most of all, he will remembered for his kind and gentle spirit.

Survivors include his loving wife, Donna Lynn Bender; daughter, Shana Bender of California; stepdaughters, Tracie Nugent of Richmond and Lyndalin Willis of Houston; grandchildren, Kristin Nugent, Hallie Nugent, Trevor Willis, Brittany Willis, and Ciera Willis, sister, JoAnn Squires and her husband, Richard, of Allen; and nieces, Stephanie Ritchie and Suzanne Wright.

A gathering of Mr. Bender’s family and friends will begin at 12:30 p.m., with his funeral service to follow at 2:00 p.m., Monday, April 6, 2015, at Wildwood-Village Mills United Methodist Church, 5943 FM 3063, Village Mills.  Interment will follow at Village Mills Cemetery, Village Mills, under the direction of Broussard’s, 530 West Monroe, Kountze.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to VFW Post 1514,  C/O Richard Moore, P.O. Box 548, Village Mills, Texas 77663; Wildwood-Village Mills United Methodist Church, Improvement Fund,  5943 FM 3063, Village Mills, Texas 77663; or to the charity of one’s choice.

The family wishes to extend their appreciation to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and especially Christine Fark and Lindsey Law; Harbor Hospice of Jasper/Beaumont, and all friends and family, for their outpouring love and support.