Benkart

Wilbert W. Benkart, 87, of Cranberry Township, formerly of West View, died Tuesday at the VNA Inpatient Hospice in Butler.

Born Aug. 1, 1924, in Pittsburgh, he was the son of the late Alice Smithfield Benkart.

Mr. Benkart was a World War II Army veteran serving with the Americal Division, Company K, in the Asian-Pacific Theater. He also served in the Pennsylvania Air National Guard during the Korean War.

Mr. Benkart retired as a foreman for Allegheny County after 30 years.

He was very athletic and taught himself snow skiing at the age of 50. He enjoyed water skiing and boating at Deep Creek. Following his retirement, he loved to travel across America in his motor home and spent eight winters in Florida. Mr. Benkart was an expert at horseshoe pitching, lawn jarts and was a member of the Zelienople Senior Citizens.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Hilda M. (Schwarz) Benkart, who he married April 15, 1946; a daughter, Barbara J. DuVall and her husband, David, of Renfrew; a son, W. Mark Benkart and his wife, Mary, of Beaver Falls; a brother, William J. Benkart of Belle Vernon; a sister, Janet Eicher and her husband, Robert, of McCandless Township.; four grandchildren, Brad Benkart, Leann (Joshua) Andrews, Todd Benkart, Amy (Eric) Anderson; and two great-grandchildren.

In addition to his mother, he was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Nancy Benkart.

<B>BENKART —</B> Friends of Wilbert W. Benkart, who died Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2011, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the <B>GLENN-KILDOO FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATION SERVICES, </B>130 Wisconsin Ave., Cranberry Township. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. Interment with military honors will be in Pinewood Memorial Gardens, Cranberry Township.Memorial donations may be made to VNA Inpatient Hospice, 115 Technology Drive, Butler, PA 16001.Online condolences and directions are at www.glennkildoofuneral-home.com.