Roberta Charlene Benbow, age 90, of Appleton City, MO, died Apr. 23, 2026 at Appleton City Manor Nursing Home. Charlene was born May 13, 1935 to Charles and Goldie (Jones) Myers in Ohio, MO.
Charlene was 1 of 3 children who were raised in St. Clair County, MO. Charlene graduated in 1953 from Appleton City High School. On Sept. 29, 1957 in Appleton City, she married JD Benbow and to this union 2 children were born. While JD was in the Army, Charlene lived at her childhood home helping her mother, Goldie.
She attended Central Missouri State College in Warrensburg graduating with a BS in Education. She started her career at Citizen’s Bank in Appleton City. Soon she began working at Head Start then transitioning to Appleton City School District where she retired after many years of teaching. She served the elementary students faithfully instilling values, dedication, along with the three R’s.
She was a life-long member of the First Baptist Church of Appleton City, where she was an active member. She would meet up with friends to play cards on a regular basis. Every year she would make candy and cookies at Christmastime to help spread the Christmas spirit. Each year Charlene and JD would take their family to travel throughout the U.S.
Charlene is survived by her husband JD Benbow; daughter Donna (Thomas) Frasher; grandchildren, Joshua Frasher (fiancée Payton Lawhead) and Laura Frasher and husband Brian Brim; and great-grandchild Autumn Brim. Charlene was preceded in death by her son John Benbow; her parent; sister Ruby Myers; and brother Nelson (Lois) Myers.
Services will be 11 AM, Fri. May 1, 2026 at Hill & Son Funeral Home, Appleton City, MO (660-476-2135). Visitation will precede the service from 10 – 11 AM. Inurnment follows at Appleton City Cemetery. Memorials to St. Jude Children’s Hospital or Appleton City Cemetery Assoc. Arr. Hill & Son Funeral Home.
