Shirley E. Benham, 78, of Beaverdam died at 7:25 a.m. March 22, 2015 at her residence. 

Shirley was born June 28, 1936, in Orange Township, Hancock County to the late John and Cora Balmer Marquart.  On Nov. 7, 1957 she married Billy A. Benham and he preceded her in death on Jan. 19, 2009. 

She was a homemaker and had worked as an executive secretary at the A.J. Heinz  Company, Bowling Green.  She was a 1954 graduate of Ada High School.  

Survivors include three children, Candy (Ron) Carmin of Bellefontaine,  Riekki (Karen) Benham of Ft. Thomas, Ky.,  Karen Pifer of Beaverdam, six grandchildren, Angela Benham, Andrea Carmin, Lindsay Carmin, Kristina Benham, Dan (Lauren) Benham and Kayla Pifer,  three great grandchildren, Mya Benham, Sydney Goodwin and Elijah Benham, a brother, Norman (Linda) Marquart of Portland, Mich., and a sister, Patricia (Fred) Arnold of Lima. 

She was preceded in death by four brothers, Howard, Marion, Ivan and Johnny Marquart and three sisters, Thelma Rupright and Mary and Ruth Marquart. 

Funeral services will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 28, at Chiles-Laman Funeral and Cremation Services, Bluffton with visitation two hours prior to the service. 

Pastor Tom Dearth will officiate.  Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, Ada at a later date.  Memorial contributions may be made to Putnam County Hospice or the Renal Clinic at Lima Memorial Hospital.  Online condolences may be expressed at www.chiles-lamanfh.com