Richard F. Bender, "Dick-Ferd", 92, of Millersville, passed away on Sunday, December 4, 2011 at St. Anne's Retirement Community after in residency there of almost 8 months.

He was the husband of Dorothy (Roland) Bender with whom he would have been married 66 years on December 29 ^th . Born in Millersville; he was the son of the late Anna (Burns) Bender and Ferdinand J. Bender. He lived most of his life in Millersville. In 2010, he and his wife moved to Country Meadows. He graduated in 1939 from the former Manor-Millersville high School, where he played varsity basketball and baseball. He had also played baseball with the Millersville Merchants team and had coached the Little League teams for the Millersville Recreational Association.

Dick served for 3 ½ years in the European Theater of Operations during WWII. He was attached to the Quartermaster Corps with the 8 ^th Air Force. He was honorably discharged in November, 1945 with the rank of Staff Sgt.

A journeyman carpenter by trade, Dick served his apprenticeship with Rice and Weidman. He later worked for Schick Electric as an industrial carpenter for 25 years and with Woodstream Corp. in Lititz for 9 ½ years, retiring in 1989. In semi-retirement, he worked part-time on the Millersville Borough Park (Freedom Memorial Park) for 9 years.

Dick was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Millersville, a member of the Millersville Lions Club, where he was named Lion of The Year in 2001, and was honored with the prestigious Melvyn Jones Award. He was also a member of the Willow Street-Lampeter Auxiliary of the Lancaster General Hospital and volunteered at the Health Campus.

He enjoyed hunting, fishing, bowling and golf.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by a sister, A. Jane Parmer of Tenafly, NJ, a niece, Barbara S., wife of Dr. Conrad L. Stanitski, of Lancaster, and many nephews and other nieces. He was preceded in death by sisters Dorothy Nystrom, Ruth Herr, Kathryn Hill, Helen Sherts, and Hilda McDannell, and one brother, Albert W. Bender.

Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, December 8, 2011 at 11:00AM at St. Paul's Lutheran Church 222 N. George St. Millersville, PA with The Rev. Constance Mentzer officiating. Friends will be received on Wednesday, December 7, 2011 from 7:00-9:00PM at the Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home & Crematory, 441 N. George St., Millersville, PA. and again on Thursday from 10:00-11:00AM at the church. Interment will be in Millersville Mennonite Cemetery. To send an online condolence, please visit SnyderFuneralHome.com. Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home & Crematory 717-872-5041