Mr. Benny D. Garland, Sr., age 91, of Vevay, Indiana entered this life on February 25, 1930 in Fayette County, Kentucky. He was the loving son of the late Robert B. and Ruby B. Dykes Garland. He was raised in Fayette County and attended North Middletown High School. Benny had to quit high school when his father got hurt and needed him to help with the farm operation. He was raised in the Centerville United Methodist Church in Bourbon County, Kentucky. He was inducted into the United States Army on July 21, 1954 and rose to the rate of Specialist Three serving in the 84th Tank Battalion, Third Armored Division under General Patton. He was honorably discharged on April 20, 1956 and was proud he received his GED while in the service. On March 1, 1947 Benny was united in marriage to Evelyn Jean Redding in Fayette County at his father in law and mother in law’s home on the front porch with an inch of snow on the ground. This happy union of nearly 59 years was blessed with sons, Timothy, Ricky Lee, Benny, Roger, and John Mark. Benny and Jean resided in Clark County, Kentucky for 15 years before moving the family to Switzerland County in 1963. Benny and Jean became involved with Grandview Memorial Gardens in Madison in 1969. They helped to landscape, develop and market the cemetery until selling their interest in 1979. Benny farmed all of his life, raising beef cattle, turkeys, tobacco, corn, hogs, and milk cows. In August 2001 the Garlands moved to a new home near Lamb from the Garland Road farm at Tucky View Farm. Benny was a member of the Spring Branch Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon, trustee, song leader, and Sunday school superintendent. He was a member of the Switzerland County Farm Bureau. He and Jean received the Silver Star Award for farm conservation from the Switzerland County Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service. He was a faithful member of the Gideons-Switzerland County Camp serving as president for 33 years. He held membership in the Burley Tobacco Co-op in Lexington, Kentucky for 26 years and had served as national director; the Switzerland County Soil and Water Conservation Board and ASCS Board; and served on the Switzerland County 4-H Fair Board for many years. In Benny’s spare-time he loved to fish, bird hunt and enjoyed socializing with friends and family. After the death of his beloved wife, Benny was united in marriage to Shelby Jean Tingle Minch and they shared many happy years of marriage until her health declined with Alzheimer’s and they enjoyed attending the Union Baptist Church at Lamb as well as Spring Branch Baptist Church. Benny died on Wednesday, July 21, 2021, at 6:25 p.m. at the Heritage House of Greensburg in Greensburg, Indiana with his loving family at his side.
A LOVING FAMILY
Benny will be missed by his loving sons, Benny Garland, Jr. and his wife, Jane of Rising Sun, Indiana, Roger Garland and his wife, Lisa of Vevay, Indiana, John Mark Garland and his wife, Kim of Lexington, Indiana; his step son, George Minch and his wife, Rose of Vevay, Indiana; his sisters, Anita Mynear of Lexington, Kentucky, Bessie Rainey of Paris, Kentucky; his grandchildren, Diana Edlin (Chris), Beth Garland, Daniel Garland (Abby), Deborah Garland, Alex Garland, Andrew Garland (Kelsie), Hannah Garland, Branndie Garland, Stacie Garland, Michael Garland (Heather), and Nathan Garland; his great grandchildren, Aidan Garland, Keenan Garland, Bella Garland, Eli Garland, Ebenezer Edlin, Evelyn Edlin, Victoria Edlin, Liam Dunn, Beau Dunn, Hunter Garland, and Ashlynn Garland; numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives. He was preceded in death by his father, Robert B. Garland, his mother, Ruby B. Dykes Garland, his wife of nearly 59 years, Evelyn Jean Redding Garland, died January 30, 2006, his second wife, Shelby Jean Tingle Minch Garland, died April 15, 2021, his sons, Timothy Garland, died February 10, 1953 and Ricky Lee Garland, died December 8, 1966, his step daughter, Deborah J. Minch, died December 8, 2002, his brothers, David Garland, Bobby Garland and Richard Garland; his father in law, John Riley Watkins, died October 29, 1993 and his mother in law, Katie Lee Sanders Watkins, died August 8, 2002.
FUNERAL CEREMONY
Funeral services will be conducted Sunday, July 25, 2021, at 2:00 p.m., by Pastor Lonnie Bontrager at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre, 325 Demaree Drive in Madison, Indiana. Interment will follow in the Grandview Memorial Gardens,9306 North US 421 near Madison, Indiana.
VISITATION
Friends may call Saturday from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. and Sunday from 1:00 p.m. until the time of service at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre, 325 Demaree Drive in Madison, Indiana.
MILITARY HONORS
A final salute with military honors will be conducted by the Major Samuel Woodfill Post No. 9 of the American Legion.
MEMORIAL EXPRESSIONS
Memorial contributions may be made to the Gideons Memorial Bible Plan. Cards are available at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centres of Madison and Hanover or the Haskell and Morrison Funeral Home of Vevay, Indiana serving the family. Online condolences, remembrances, and memorials can be left at www.morgan-nay.com or at www.haskellandmorrison.com