Ethel Gladys (Marshall) Benton was born May 7, 1932 in St. James, Missouri to Earl and Elsie (Finn) Marshall and passed away on July 26, 2026 at the age of 94 years.
She married George Thomas “Tommie” Benton on June 5, 1953 at the First Church of God in St. James.
Ethel attended the First Church of God as a child and through adulthood. She enjoyed singing in the church choir.
She worked as the secretary for the First Church of God in St. James, Missouri from the mid-1960’s until 2012, during which time she worked with nine different senior pastors.
Ethel enjoyed all types of handwork. She was an avid hand quilter. She demonstrated quilting from 1980 to 2015 at Old Iron Works Days held at Maramec Spring Park.
She was famous for making and bringing “pink salad” to every family get-together (always in the same bowl and always topped with maraschino cherries).
She was preceded in death by her husband, Tommie; parents; brother and sisters, Homen Edward Marshall (Marie), Oma Berniece Kinkeade (Lawrence), Dorothy Mabel Smith (George) and Georgia Elizabeth Walls (Chester); two infant siblings, Vernon Earl Marshall and Beatrice May Marshall; daughter-in-law, Audrey Benton; sister-in-law, Betty Morrison; and brother-in-law, Robert Morrison.
She is survived by her children, Dale Benton of King George, Virginia, Mark Benton and wife Beth of Ozark, Missouri and Lisa Southard and husband Rodney of Rolla, Missouri; grandchildren, Dane Benton (Tricia) of Ozark, Missouri, Nicole Mason (Keith) of Springfield, Missouri, Mary Caldwell of King George, Virginia, Karana Luebbert (Wesley) of St. Peters, Missouri and Hanan Douglas of Wake Village, Texas; great grandchildren, Colt and Case Mason, Marshall and Emily Benton, MaLeah Byrd, Wyles and Devlin Luebbert and William Henry Douglas; other relatives and friends.
Visitation was held from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Friday July 31, 2026 at the Jones Funeral Home in St. James, Missouri.
Funeral service was held at noon on Friday at the Jones Funeral Home in St. James, Missouri with Don Carson officiating. Her favorite hymns were played by Linda Spurgeon. Pallbearers were Dane Benton, Wesley Luebbert, Keith Mason, Colt Mason, Case Mason and Rodney Southard. Honorary pallbearers were Marshall Benton, Emily Benton, MaLeah Byrd, Wyles Luebbert, Devlin Luebbert and William Henry Douglas.
Burial in the St. James Cemetery.
Arrangements under the direction of the Jones Funeral Home in St. James, Missouri.
