Donald W. Benkendorfer

Donald William Benkendorfer, Jr. - A Life Well Lived Donald William (Donny) Benkendorfer, Jr., 57, beloved husband, adoring father, proud PawPaw and devoted son passed away on December 3, 2016 peacefully, after a fierce fight against Bile Duct Cancer.Donny’s intense will to live, unwavering faith in his Savior, and the love, support and prayers of countless family and friends carried him through 2 grueling years of battling this rare form of cancer with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.This week, Donny’s earthly battle may have ended, but his Heavenly war was won. Donny was born on March 31, 1959 in Houston, Texas to Don & LuAnn Benkendorfer.His family moved to Mesquite, Texas when he was a small child and became members of First Baptist Church where Donny surrendered his life to Christ at the age of 9. During his teenage years, his family joined Shiloh Terrace Baptist Church. He was an active member of the youth ministry and the singing group “Lost and Found”, where he met and fell in love with Vickie Allen.Donny graduated from Mesquite High School where he played baseball and basketball.Donny and Vickie were married on May 26, 1979 at Shiloh Terrace Baptist Church. They moved to College Station, Texas where he graduated from Texas A&M University, Fighting Texas Aggie class of 1984.Donny and Vickie raised their 4 children in Mesquite, as members of Shiloh Terrace Baptist Church where Donny was ordained and served faithfully as a deacon until the summer of 2000, when they moved to Spring, Texas and joined Spring Baptist Church.They were active and passionate about serving in the youth ministries during their time at each church. Donny worked as a computer engineer for Mobil Corporation in Dallas for 11 years, until Mobil merged with Exxon.He continued to work for ExxonMobil in Houston for 16 additional years, where he earned the love and respect of many colleagues. Donny was known for his kind, sometimes quiet, compassionate and fun-loving personality. He was a mentor to his friends and coworkers and a patient voice of reason to many.He was also the first to lend a helping hand to anyone who was in need.He spent many years loving countless kids, whether they were his children’s friends, kids from the youth groups or his many nieces and nephews.Most of all he was known for his love and devotion to his wife of 37 years, his 4 children, their spouses and his 6 grandchildren.He spent hours upon hours pouring into their lives in more ways than can be accounted for.He loved coaching their sports teams, supporting their hobbies, teaching them life skills, instilling a love for all things Texas A&M and most importantly, teaching them to love and truly live for Christ. Nothing brought more joy to his heart than to see his grandchildren and to hear them holler “PawPaw!” as they ran into his arms.He selflessly put his family and their needs and desires as priority above his own, even to the very end, protecting them as best he could.He was a phenomenal husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend and he will truly be missed by all who knew him. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Vickie Benkendorfer, son, Brian Benkendorfer and wife, Lisa, daughter, Kristen Fluker and husband, Kyle, son, Spencer Benkendorfer and wife, Lynne, daughter Heather Benkendorfer, grandchildren Ellie, Reagan, Callum & Samuel Benkendorfer, Rylan & Nora Fluker, mother, LuAnn Benkendorfer, mother-in-law, Ada Allen, brothers and sisters, Bobby & Kathie Hamm, Jeff & Debby Schmucker, Larry & Brenda Allen, Greg & Debbie Luttrell, Mike & Cindie Dillard and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Greeting him in Heaven were his father, Donald W. Benkendorfer, Sr. and father-in-law, Bill L. Allen. Flowers can be sent to: Spring Baptist Church 633 East Louetta Road Spring, Texas 77373 In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: Shiloh Terrace Baptist Church Youth Ministry 9810 La Prada Dallas, Texas 75228 Spring Baptist Church Youth Ministry 633 Louetta Road Spring, Texas 77373 The Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation cholangiocarcinoma.org