Bill B. Benton, Jr.

Bill Benton, Jr., a devoted father, husband, grandfather, uncle, and friend to many, died peacefully on Sunday, October 27, after a brief illness. He was 81.

A native of Los Angeles, Bill will be remembered for his quick wit, booming voice, generosity, intelligence, and devotion to family, especially his wife of 56 years, Lynn Benton. The two met as undergraduate students at George Washington University.  Bill was an active member of Sigma Chi fraternity, and graduated with a Bachelor’s in Public Affairs.

Bill then earned a Masters in Government Administration from the Fels Institute of Government at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, and later earned a Doctorate in Public Administration from the University of Southern California.

Bill worked tirelessly throughout his 50-year career in the public and private sectors to improve government programs serving the most disadvantaged members of society. He was a nationally recognized expert in human services programs and financing.

Early in his career, Bill was appointed to manage the reorganization of Maryland’s human service programs, and was responsible for the consolidation of over 40 programs into a single cabinet-level agency, which he then led as Assistant Secretary and later Deputy Secretary.  He also worked at the Urban Institute, held high-level positions in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and served as Vice President of Urban Systems Research & Evaluation and President of the Human Service Management Division of Maximus.

In 1981, Bill was appointed to serve as Visiting Director of the New Zealand Department of Social Welfare, and took his wife and children to live in Wellington for a year.  While there he assembled, trained and managed staff responsible for conducting evaluations of the country’s social service programs, and enjoyed traveling throughout the North and South Island with his family.

In 1993, he founded Benton & Associates, a firm specializing in the management and financing of state and local health and human service programs.  His clients included the states of Virginia, Texas, Montana,  Maryland, Hawaii, New Mexico, South Carolina, and New Hampshire; and parishes and counties in Louisiana, Texas, and California.  After retirement Bill continued to consult informally, and recently joined Arlington County’s Social Services Advisory Board as well as the Board of his Arlington, Va., condominium.

Bill loved to travel, especially with his family. Hawai’i, where Bill in his youth spent summers as a camp counselor, was among his favorite destinations, and he loved the ocean. He also enjoyed trips to Denmark, Italy, Canada, London, Spain, and Florida. He was his family’s travel advisor, always offering to book hotels and flights and sharing advice on what to see or where to eat.  Bill loved good food, and while he appreciated fine dining, he had a penchant for taking his family to hole-in-the-wall establishments that he claimed had “the best” this or that. He was always willing to be the airport shuttle, wearing a chauffeur’s hat and broad smile when he picked people up.  He had a commanding presence, owing to his large stature and outgoing personality, but made everyone he met feel at ease.  He was the life of the party, and always left a smile on people’s faces.

Bill (also known as “Pop Pop”) adored being a grandfather, and loved having his grandchildren at the house, where he would swim with them and cook lavish breakfasts and dinners on the grill. He had become an avid fan of the Tennessee Volunteers, where his oldest granddaughter is an undergraduate, and closely and proudly followed the artistic, athletic, and academic accomplishments of grandchildren Ella, Zoe, Soren, and Lena.  His nieces and their children from Canada were frequent visitors to his Maryland home, and he also enjoyed time with his granddog Ridley and grandcat Raya.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Lynn Benton.; daughter Melissa Bomberger, of Arlington, Va.; son Michael Benton, currently residing in Quito, Ecuador; and four grandchildren. He leaves behind nieces, nephews, and countless friends and acquaintances.  He was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Benton; and father, BIll Benton, Sr.

A Memorial Service will be held at on Sunday, November 17th at 11 am, at the Westin Arlington, 801 N Glebe Rd, Arlington, VA 22203

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to the National Kidney Foundation or the Salvation Army .