William H. G. Benning, 52, of Beaumont, passed away Thursday, February 14, 2013.
Bill was born on October 18, 1960, to Alice Elaine and George Henry Benning, in Dayton, Ohio. Shortly after his birth they moved to Houston, Texas, and he was the middle of three children.
Bill graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in Houston in 1979. After high school, he attended Texas Christian University, graduating in 1983 with a BBA in Finance. During the spring semester of Bill’s junior year at TCU, he visited his maternal grandmother in Beaumont and she set him up on a blind date where he met his future wife, Mary Jane Steinhagen.
They were married in Beaumont on Labor Day weekend in 1983. Bill began his career working for a bank in Waco, Texas. Bill and Mary Jane moved back to Beaumont in 1985 to set down roots and start their family, which quickly became his pride and joy.
He was the proud father to four adoring children. Bill and Mary Jane’s first daughter, Caitlin Benning Laughlin, is a 2010 graduate of Baylor University. She and her husband, Thomas Laughlin, reside in Dallas. Son, Mark Steinhagen Benning, is a 2012 graduate of Baylor University. Mark and his fiancée, Lindsay Lowery, are planning a wedding for the fall of 2013. Son, William Hanson Benning, is a sophomore at Baylor University pursuing a degree in Management Information Systems. The youngest, Mary Claire Benning, is a junior at Monsignor Kelly Catholic High School.
Bill was a very active member of the community. He served on numerous boards including, but not limited to, the Board of Trustees of All Saints Episcopal School, the Art Museum of Southeast Texas, and Ubi Caritas, where he served as President. He also served as Chairman of the Salvation Army Beaumont Advisory Board. Bill and his family are members of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church where he served as a member of the Vestry and as Senior Warden. Bill also served on the President’s Advisory Council for Planned Giving at Lamar University and was a graduate of Leadership Beaumont.
Bill attended countless school pageants, chapel programs, recitals, and basketball games. Whatever the event, he always had a smile on his face and positive thing to say. He thoroughly enjoyed spending quality time with his family and friends. He was happiest sitting around the pool on a beautiful evening with Mary Jane and getting away to the beach house whenever the busy calendar allowed. Bill also enjoyed spending time with his father-in-law and his boys hunting at the family deer lease, smoking cigars, and sitting by the fire pit. One of his many passions was cooking, which he shared with Mary Claire. Bill also enjoyed being King Neches LXIV. He always said, “It is good to be the King.”
Bill worked for many years in wealth management and as a trust officer. In 2010, he founded Genesis Wealth Management where he served as managing principal for three years.
Bill is survived by his wife of twenty-nine years, Mary Jane Benning; children, Caitlin and Thomas Laughlin, Mark Benning and his fiancée, Lindsay, Will Benning and Mary Claire Benning; parents, Janie and Mark Steinhagen of Beaumont and Barbara Benning of Houston; brothers, Roy Steinhagen and his wife, Kim, and their daughters, Anna and Emily of Beaumont and George Henry “Bud” Benning and his wife, Mary, and their daughters, Mary Francis and Lucy of El Paso; and sister, Belinda Elaine Benning and her husband, Jeff Burbach, and family.
He will be greatly missed by his family, many close friends, and other members of the community.
A gathering of Bill's family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 19, 2013, at Broussard's, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont. His funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, February 20, 2013, at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 4090 Delaware Street, Beaumont, with a gathering of friends to follow in Broce Hall at the church. A private committal will be at Broussard's Crematorium, Beaumont.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Bill's memory to Humane Society of Southeast Texas, P.O. Box 1629, Beaumont, Texas 77704 or St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Memorial Fund, 4090 Delaware Street, Beaumont, Texas 77706.
