Evelyn Sleight Benjamin of Beckwith Road, passed away on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at the Glens Falls Hospital.
She was born on June 21, 1908 in Fort Edward and recently celebrated her 100th birthday among family and friends.
She attended and received her teaching certificate from Plattsburgh Normal School in 1928 and began her teaching career in the Colonie school system. She married Valentine Benjamin and moved to Dresden where she continued to teach school in a one room school house. She taught all of her three children in that one room school house through the seventh grade before moving into the Whitehall Central School System from which she retired in 1971.
Evelyn was active in many local organizations such as a Charter Member of the Whitehall Senior Citizens, Chair of the Hobby Class, long time member of the Rural Charity Club, member of the Mettowee Valley Business and Professional Women’s Club (named Woman of the Year in the 70′s), officer and board member of the Whitehall Historical Society, library volunteer, long time member of the Glens Falls Hospital Guild, Dresden Homemakers and the Presbyterian Church of Whitehall.
Besides her parents, she is predeceased her husband, Valentine Benjamin, her brother, Clifton Sleight and her sister, Isabel Sleight.
She is survived by her daughter, Jane Robbins and her husband, Kenneth of Burnt Hills, her son, Donald Benjamin and his wife, Barbara of Clifton Park and formerly of Plattsburgh, her son, Leslie Benjamin and his wife, Kitty of Whitehall, 10 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren
A funeral service was conducted on Monday, Sept. 29 at 11 a.m. at the Jillson Funeral Home, Inc., 46 Williams Street, Whitehall, by Rev. Roberta Proper, Pastor of the First Presybertian Church in Whitehall, officiating.
Interment will follow at the Crockwell Cemetery on Huletts Mountain.
Family and friends were invited to call at the funeral home on Sunday, Sept. 28 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.
Pall bearers will be her grandsons, Andy Benjamin, Jeff Benjamin, Kelly Benjamin, Tom Robbins and David Robbins.and her great grandson, Alexander Desourdy.
In lieu of flowers, friends may honor Evelyn by donating to the Washington County Historical Society, 167 Broadway, Fort Edward, NY 12828, the Isaac C. Griswold Library, 12 Williams Street, Whitehall, NY 12887 or the Skenesborough Volunteer Fire Department, P. O. Box 338, Whitehall, NY 12887.
Family and friends are invited to attend a light lunch at the Skenesborough Fire House immediately following interment.
