Stanley Bender

Absent from the body, present with the Lord; II Corinthians, 5:8
Stanley Orin Bender, 90, of Fort Wayne died Monday, March 8, 2021, at his home. He was born May 27, 1930, in Elkhart to Russell and Edna Mae (Weldy) Bender. He had three brothers, Rex Deloss who has passed away, Jim Keith and Richard Bender. He graduated from Elkhart High School in 1948 and joined the United States Marine Corps. He served four years as a Marine earning the rank of Staff Sergeant. He took part in the Korean Inchon Landing and fought at the Chosin Reservoir and received three Purple Hearts during his service. Upon discharge, he married Norma Jean "Mouse" Lytell on November 24, 1951, and the couple had three sons, Steven Greg (Darlene), Mark Stephen who has passed away and Gregg Allen Bender.
He began his career in 1952 with CTS Corporation in Elkhart and earned a college degree with the company. He rose through the ranks and began a management path transferring to Asheville, North Carolina in 1961, Berne in 1964 and then became president of CTS Tool & Die in Fort Wayne in 1971. He had 16 patents and was on the research and development team for the television remote control. He also holds patents for the hearing aid and heart pacemaker.
He always became involved in the communities he lived and often found a leadership role. In Berne, he spearheaded the effort to get lights for the football field so the South Adams Starfires could play Friday night games. In Fort Wayne, he became president of the Allen County Mental Health Board, and he also served as president of the Kekionga Shores neighborhood association, where the family lived. After retiring from CTS in 1987, he was called back by the company to assume consulting and management roles at subsidiaries around the world in such far-reaching places as Singapore, Hong Kong and around the United States.
The couple traveled extensively visiting the Holy Land, traveling Europe and China and wintering in Florida. He loved water sports and spent most summers in Northern Wisconsin skiing, fishing and enjoying the beauty of the North Woods with family and friends. He loved to design and build things and was as comfortable with a hammer and saw in hand as he was driving a boat. He also loved to watch Notre Dame football and followed the Irish through thick and thin.
He loved his family and never missed a football game, wrestling match or swimming meet his sons participated in. He was currently a member of The Chapel but had been a founding member of Aboite Missionary Church soon after moving to Fort Wayne.
He is survived by his wife; two sons; two brothers; two grandchildren, Laura (Jake) Hattaway; and Sarah; great-grandchild, Layla; and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Tuesday, March 16 from 4-7 p.m. at D.O. McComb and Sons Covington Knolls Funeral Home, 8325 Covington Road, Fort Wayne and one hour prior to the 11 a.m. funeral service Wednesday, March 17 at The Chapel, 2505 West Hamilton Road South, Fort Wayne. Burial will be at Riverview Cemetery.  
Memorials may be made to The Chapel, Allen County SPCA or the Rescue Mission.
Arrangements provided by D.O. McComb & Sons Covington Knolls Funeral Home in Fort Wayne. To sign the online guestbook, go to www.domccombandsons.com.