Jane Kerbow Benton

Jane Kerbow Benton, 94, of Pampa, passed away at Pampa Regional Medical Center following a brief illness on Sunday, January 10, 2016. Services will be 10:00 AM Thursday, January 14, 2016, at Carmichael-Whatley Colonial Chapel, with Rev. Lane Boyd and Rev. Suzanne Cate, officiating. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mrs. Benton was born April 26, 1921 in Clarendon to H. Guy and Helen Talley Kerbow. She graduated from Clarendon High School in the Class of 1938 as salutatorian. Following graduation, she moved to Pampa and worked as an executive secretary to the City Manager and later, during World War II as a secretary at the Pampa Army Air Base. During that time, she earned her pilot’s license with the intent of becoming a WASP (Women’s Auxiliary Service Pilot), but the war ended before she had accomplished enough flying hours to qualify. Jane and her friends loved to go dancing at The Nat in Amarillo, a former natatorium converted to a dance hall. The Nat hosted the popular Big Bands, including Bennie Goodman and Kay Kaiser. Being a beautiful young woman, she once was chosen to lead the Kay Kaiser orchestra for a tune! After the war, Jane was accepted at McMurry College in Abilene. However, she decided to have one more date with “that cowboy,” and he proposed to her on that date! Jane and Jack H. Benton were married on March 30, 1946. Jane worked hard as a farm wife and mother for many years. She served as president of a Gray County Home Demonstration Club and as president of the PTA at Sam Houston elementary school. In 1979, she went to work for the Department of Commerce in the Census Bureau, winning many awards for superior service including one presented to her in Washington, DC in 1996. She retired from the Department of Commerce in 2001 still going strong at the age of 80. Jane was preceded in death by her parents, Guy and Helen; her husband, Jack H. Benton; and two brothers, Harry Guy Kerbow, Jr. and Gerald Talley Kerbow. She leaves to honor her memory her daughter, Rev. Suzanne Benton Cate and husband Michael of Granbury; her son, Jim Bill Benton of Pampa; five grandchildren, Talley Robin Cate Coolidge and husband Colin of Dallas, Gabriel Guy Cate and wife Allison of Shreveport, Louisiana, Jana Benton Ingram and husband Clint of White Deer, Matthew William Benton of Amarillo, and Jason James Benton and wife Stacey of Pampa; and eight great grandchildren, Soren and Caya Cate, Lexi Benton, Coleton, Aubrie and Dillon Ingram, and Kassidey and Brooke Ramming. The Benton family is grateful to the staff at Meredith Place Assisted Living for their care of Jane. Memorials may be made to a charity of choice.