Sharon S. Benton

Benton, Sharon Sue 
Sharon S. Benton, daughter of our Most High God left this earth and went into the arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Thursday, September 29, 2022. She was met in heaven by her daughter Carolyn Benton Johnston. 
Sharon was born on October 18, 1942 in Jonesboro, Arkansas to Robert and Doris Reynolds (both deceased). She was one of four children. She moved to Albuquerque with her parents in 1950. She attended Inez Elementary School, Monroe Junior High, and at first Highland High School while Sandia High was being built. She began at Sandia High School in her junior year and graduated from Sandia High School in 1960. Her class at Sandia was the class that chose the school colors of red and blue, and the mascot of the matadors. 
She is survived by her godly and loving husband of 62 years Robert (Bob) Benton which she met on a blind date. She says she really wasn’t that impressed with him at first but then changed her mind and they were married on September 23, 1961. They had the Biblical picture of marriage for all to witness. Was it always easy? No. Were their hard times? Yes. But the covenant of their marriage was their promise to each other on that day in 1960 and faithfully kept up until she took her final earthly breath. 
Sharon has four daughters. Carolyn Johnston (deceased) (Keith Johnston (Barbara)) of Lawrence, Kansas. Marsha Rodger (Ron) of Sherrills Ford, North Carolina. Jennifer Martin of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Melodie Rymarz (Mike) of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Grandma is survived by ten of her most favorite people in the entire world. She loved them and gave so much of herself for them. She loved them even more than Elvis. Christopher Johnston (Heather) of Shawnee, KS; Brandon Rodger (Amy) of Phoenix, AZ, Angela Johnston of Lawrence, KS; Amber Rymarz-Freitas (Rafael) of Albuquerque, NM; Kelsey Martin of Albuquerque, NM; Meredith Krake (Alex) of Springfield, MA; Cameron Rodger (Emma) of Albuquerque, NM; Stephanie Rymarz of Albuquerque, NM; Ian Martin of Albuquerque, NM; and Ryan Rymarz (Jocelyn) of Albuquerque, NM. And the joys of her life, three great-grandchildren; Ezekiel Johnston of Shawnee, KS; Avarey Krake of Springfield, MA; and Jessica Johnston of Shawnee, KS. 
Sharon spent the first 27 years of her marriage serving God by serving her husband and children. She exhibited the attributes of the Proverbs 31 woman. She arose early each morning and prepared for her husband and family their breakfast, making their lunches then as Bob went to work, she took her children to school. She made sure that each one of her daughters got where they needed to be on what day for which activity. Juggling was a gift given to her from God.  She spent the day working with her hands to provide a very well kept home, making many of her children’s clothes, planning and cooking meals, spending time sharing ice tea with her sweet friends, serving at her church, being on a bowling team and spending countless days and nights at a hospital where at one time or another one of her children was. How she found time to make it seem effortless was another gift God gave her.
Once her children were older and self-sufficient, she began her second career of serving others by becoming an Education Assistant for special needs children at the elementary school all of her daughters had previously attended, McCollum Elementary School. Six of her ten grandchildren ended up attending the same elementary school. Sharon was affectionately called “Grandma” by most of the children at McCollum instead of Mrs. Benton. This was because the children all thought that was her name because so many of their classmates called her that. She had at least one of her grandchildren at McCollum for 8 of the years she worked there. During the time, she worked for Albuquerque Public Schools she also assisted her daughters with their children before and after school. She cared for her grandchildren at moment’s notice when they became sick at school, faked being sick at school, needed to go to the doctor’s appointment, dentist appointment, make their gymnastics practice, broke a bone, needed stitches, got suspended or just keep them during very dark and difficult times when her daughters needed her. It was not a question that she wouldn’t care for them. She provided for each of her daughters and their children exactly what was needed for them to succeed at exactly when they needed it, even if it meant she went without (which she did consistently without complaining). She retired from APS at the end of the school year 2007. After retirement her favorite thing to do was for her and Bob to go to yard sales and estate sales. She seemed to know exactly where they were even if there was no sign present. This sixth sense was another of God’s gift He gave her. 
God knew she would be needed in January of 2008 to be the caregiver for her oldest daughter, Carol, while she went through chemotherapy treatment, total body radiation, a stem cell transplant for Leukemia all up until the time of Carol’s death in May of 2008. A sacrifice she willingly gave. The final moments of Carol’s life on this earth she would be there for it. 
Sharon served her church from the time she was married up until the time she was physically unable to do so. She served first as a member of Mountainview Baptist Church and then Monterey Baptist Church. She served both churches in different capacities over the years. She served as a superintendent of the children’s department, taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, worked in Vacation Bible School, provided hospitality in the form of preparing meals for those who were ill, having surgery or deaths in the family. For the last 41 years she has been a faithful member of Hoffmantown Baptist Church. She loved her church family. At Hoffmantown she also served in the Children’s Department for many, many years. Her and Bob were at church every time the doors were open. Even up to the last few weeks of her life. She taught us that being committed to God the Father and Jesus Christ was not dependent on any Pastor but, on a relationship with Jesus Christ. 
Sharon once wrote in a paper for a class she was taking that she could write a book about all the difficulties, hardships, storms, trials, and tragedies she had been through in her life and no one would believe her. But they would all be true. Her family could attest to that. She lived her life knowing that God is good all the time and all the time God is good. She would make sure everyone knew that the blessings God gave her outweighed anything she ever would go through or ever went through. Her greatest joy was making others happy. 
Celebration of life service for Sharon will be on Tuesday, October 18, 2022, 10:00 am at Hoffmantown Baptist Church room B100.