James Calvin Benefield, Jr.,

Passed away January 23, 2021, a few months shy of his 95th birthday. James was born on April 23, 1926, to James Calvin Benefield, Sr., and Lillie Belle Foster Benefield. His younger sister Lillian Evonne Ridgway and brother Glen Otis Benefield predeceased him in death.

Born and raised in Winter Park, Florida, James attended Winter Park High School, and went on to serve in the U.S. Army where he was stationed in Japan. After he returned home, he raced stock cars in the late 1940s and early 1950s and was a member of what was then known as the Central Florida Auto Racing Club (James had developed a passion for auto racing early in life after he traded a new bicycle for his first car). It was in 1950 at the local skating rink, the Coliseum in College Park, where he met Elizabeth, his wife of sixty-eight years. Soon after marriage he began working in the construction industry building homes in Central Florida. And in 1966, he went to work for the United States Postal Service, retiring in 1986 after twenty years of service.

Throughout the years James spent his free time outdoors boating, fishing, and camping. When his children were young, family get togethers in New Smyrna Beach on the weekends were common, as were boating trips along the St. John's River and the Butler Chain of Lakes. He loved his Orlando Clipper! Those all-day boat trips in an Orlando Clipper were bumpy for the kids (cousins included). He'd just yell out "hang on" as the boat hit rough water. He would go to Zellwood each summer for a truckload of fresh corn. He loved fresh Zellwood corn! He found himself in difficult situations at times, such as being stranded on top of his boat house one day during a summer lightning storm. He was repairing shingles when the wind blew his ladder down. His wife, Elizabeth, could not hear him calling for help and had no idea where he was until after the storm. As a grandfather he loved spending time with his two grandsons during the summers hiking and fishing in the mountains of North Carolina, and fishing for bass after dinner off his dock on Lake Minneola.

James lived out his golden years with Elizabeth in the home he built for them on the Clermont Chain of Lakes. After retirement James and Elizabeth would travel all over North America with a group of close friends in their RVs, crisscrossing the U.S each summer to see new sights from Florida to Alaska.

James is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; daughter, Vickie Blumenauer (son-in-law Wes Blumenauer), son, Jeffery Benefield (daughter-in-law Cassandra Benefield), grandsons
Jeffrey C. Blumenauer (Nicole) and Brian J. Blumenauer (Natalie) and three great grandchildren, Eli, Owen, and Beau Blumenauer.

"Pop" your presence will greatly be missed. Our memories of you will forever be treasured. We'll be comforted by the love we shared and celebrate a life well-lived.

Due to COVID restrictions a graveside memorial service at Greenwood Cemetery in Orlando will be planned at a later date.