John Benjamin

John Benjamin, 72, of Glenwood, Arkansas, passed away at his home on June 18, 2025, following a bravely-fought three year battle with cancer. He was born on June 19, 1952, in Lubbock, Texas, to Charles Hugh and Dorothy Daugherty Benjamin.

A 1971 graduate of Acorn High School near Mena and a 1976 graduate of Henderson State University, he graduated with a degree in health and physical education as well as a commission as second lieutenant in the U. S. Army.

While still in college, he married his high school sweetheart, Sammie Inlow. Following college, John coached high school basketball for two years, after which he served for three years on active duty at Fort Carson, Colorado.

John was a man of exceptional talents and diverse interests. Following active duty, he moved his family home to Arkansas in 1981, where he became a production manager for Johnson Controls. In 1987, he bought a distributorship for Interstate Batteries in Texarkana and later Fort Smith, which he operated for more than twenty years. Upon selling his business, he became a senior project manager for the state of Arkansas until he retired in 2015.

John moved his family to Glenwood in 1997, where he was a longtime member of First Baptist Church of Glenwood. He was a mason and an avid outdoorsman who was honored to serve on the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, during which time he made a number of lifelong friends.

Few things matched John’s enthusiasm for the Arkansas Razorbacks, especially when it came to basketball. His fandom was legendary – equal parts spirited and unshakable. Even as he grew weaker, he could come to life and yell with the best of them if the Razorbacks were playing.

John is survived by his wife Sammie, of Glenwood, their four children Julie (Jared) Peters of Forney, TX, Luke (Kristen) Benjamin of Arkadelphia, Wes (Melanie) Benjamin of Kelso, WA, Sarah (David) Segovis of Benton, ten grandchildren, one great-granddaughter, his brother Charles Benjamin of San Jose, CA, and a number of beloved nieces and nephews.

He loved and served Jesus Christ until the moment God called him home. He shared his faith with his friends, family, and strangers, praising God through his illness without question or complaint.

John Benjamin never did anything halfway. He never met a stranger, accepted people for who they were without judgment, and lived life to the fullest every day. He worked hard, loved unconditionally, and gave all that he had and was to his family. His life was a testament to strength, hard work, faithfulness, and love. He leaves behind a legacy which will live on in the hearts of all who knew him.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate your donations to the CARTI Cancer Center.

https://www.carti.com/foundation/donate-now/