Obituary of Mark Leslie Bender

Mark Leslie Bender, 87 passed away peacefully surrounded by loving family on October 7, 2017. He was preceded in death by his parents Phil and Bonnie Bender; brother, Murlin (Betty) Bender; sisters Aletta (Scott) Hanville and Irma Lee (Hoyt) Caldwell; sister-in-law Rena Bender.  Mark is survived by his wife of 63 years Claudette (Conant) Bender; his brother Richard Bender and wife Jan of Hobbs, NM; daughters Shawn Helm, Claudia Bratton and husband Mark, Kathryn Gratia and husband Allan. Grandchildren, Jessica Ewing and husband Ben, Jennifer Frizzell and husband Chris, Katie, Melissa and Christie Gratia; great grandchildren, Maddie, Maverick and Monahan Ewing, and a host of other family and friends.

Mark was born and raised in Oklahoma where he attended and graduated from Oklahoma A & M. He proudly served his country in the United States Army during the Korean War and made the invasion of Inchon. He remained a proud patriot his entire life.

Mark came to Texas in 1956 to work for Hughes Tool Company where he retired as Chief Project Technologist after 35 years. He loved fishing, bowling, gardening, traveling, playing dominoes (42) and was an avid Astros fan. He was a good Christian husband and father to his three girls. Mark was a faithful member of First United Methodist Church Pearland for 42 years. He enjoyed singing in the choir and loved singing to his girls while they were growing up and then to his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Mark was a wonderful provider for his family and will be greatly missed by all that knew and loved him.

The visitation will be on Wednesday October 11, 2017 at 12:00 pm at Clayton Funeral Home 5530 W. Broadway, Pearland, Texas 77581 with the funeral service to follow at 1:00 pm officiated by Reverend Dr. Keith Whitaker and Reverend Fred Willis.  The interment with military honors will follow at SouthPark Cemetery in Pearland, Texas.