Obituary of Col. Jack Odell Benson

Colonel Jack Odell Benson, U.S. Army (Ret.), M.D., age 92, of Colorado Springs, Colorado joined our Heavenly Father on February 5, 2023. Born in Oakland, California on April 14, 1930, he was the son of the late Henry Charles Benson and Bertha Therese (Schmidt) Benson. 

Jack spent his entire childhood in Oakland, California graduating from Oakland Technical High School in 1948. He went on to obtain his bachelor’s degree in medical sciences at the University of California, Berkeley, graduating in 1952. Jack graduated with a medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco in June, 1955. During his residency, he met his to-be wife, Barbara Worth. Post graduation, Jack completed his internship at Tripler Army Hospital in Honolulu, Hawaii. In 1956, following his internship, Jack and Barbara were married in Honolulu. Jack served in the U.S. Air Force for nine years, from 1955 to 1964, as an anesthesiologist. Jack proceeded to serve in the U.S. Army for an additional fourteen years, from 1965 to 1979. During his time in the Army, Jack served as a flight surgeon and parachutist. One of Jack’s favorite assignments was being stationed in Wurzburg and Darmstadt, Germany, serving as a surgeon and commander. Jack’s proudest accomplishment was serving as the Commander of the Bassett Army Hospital on Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks, Alaska. During his service, Jack received several medals including the Legion of Merit, the Army Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, and the National Defense Service Medal. 

Following his military service, Jack became a field representative for The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals (JCAH) for fourteen years until 1995. Jack was responsible for surveying hospitals throughout the United States. Jack was also an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed traveling. He had a lifelong passion of making and flying RC model airplanes. Jack is remembered as being humble, generous, and most of all, family-oriented. 

Jack was preceded in death by his father, Henry Benson; his mother, Bertha (Schmidt) Benson; and his son, Christopher Benson. He is survived by his loving wife, Barbara Irene (Worth) Benson; his daughter, Laura Weed; his granddaughter, Kendra (Jonah) Burnette; and his great-grandchildren, Aria, Annabelle, and Benjamin. 

Visitation, 11:30AM, Wednesday, March 1, 2023, The Springs Funeral Services - North, 6575 Oakwood Boulevard, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80923. 

Funeral Service, 12:30PM, Wednesday, March 1, 2023, The Springs Funeral Services - North, 6575 Oakwood Boulevard, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80923. 

Graveside Service, 2:30PM, Wednesday, March 1, 2023, Evergreen Cemetery, 1005 Hancock Expressway, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903.

In Lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Dementia Association of America, https://www.dementiasociety.org/donate