Paul Benes ’59

Reverend Paul A. Benes HIGH FALLS- Reverend Paul A. Benes of High Falls, N.Y., passed away quietly and peacefully on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018, at 80 years of age with his wife and five daughters at his side. Paul was born on April 15, 1937 in Grand Rapids, Mich. He was the youngest of four children born to the Reverend Dr. Louis Henry Benes II and Alberta Kingma Benes. His three older siblings include his sister, Ruth Roundhouse (deceased); brother, Louis H. Benes III, (deceased); and sister, Dorothy Weiss. Reverend Benes pastored many churches during 55 years of ministry including Wanaque Reformed Church, Wanaque, N.J., Lisha’s Kill Reformed Church, Schenectady, N.Y., Old Dutch Reformed Church, Kingston, N.Y., First Reformed Church, DeMotte, Ind., First Christian Reformed, DeMotte, Ind., Walden Reformed Church, Walden, N.Y., and Marbletown Reformed Church, Stone Ridge, N.Y. He is survived by his devoted wife of 59 years, Marilyn J. Benes; daughters, Joy Smith (James) of Rensselaerville, N.Y., Brenda J. Lane (Christopher) of Arnold, Md., Maribeth Gougoutris (Thomas) of Kingston, N.Y., Kristin Brown (Nicholas) of Kingston, N.Y., Doreen Harney (Kevin) of Greenwood, W.Va.; his eleven grandchildren include: Brielyn Smith-Shahen (James), Zachery Smith, Carlynn Lane, Alyson Halalilo (Noa), Nicholas Gougoutris (Christine), Bethany Gougoutris, Nathaniel Gougoutris, Alexis Gougoutris, Alyssa Gougoutris, Tyler Brown, Aaron Brown; as well as five great-grandchildren, Elliot, Isaac, Mya, Kyrielle, and Dexter. Pastor Paul was avid gardener and known by all for his competitive spirit during sports and games. He served on the boards of the YMCA and Gateway Industries and as President of the Mid-Hudson Classis of the RCA. Paul had a big heart for the body of Christ and in all his years as a pastor, he remained committed to biblical preaching. His ministry that encompassed five decades in the Reformed Church of America, reflected the love and life of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Paul will be remembered and greatly missed by his family and friends in the years to come. Visitation will take place at the George J. Moylan Funeral Home Inc., 2053 Rte 32, Rosendale, N.Y. on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018, from 4 to 7 p.m. A service of celebration will be held at Marbletown Reformed Church on 3750 Main Street, Stone Ridge, N.Y., on Friday, Feb. 2, 2018, at 11 a.m. Participating clergy are Reverend Karen Vande Bunte, Reverend Gary Sissel and Pastor Joshua Ortman. Interment to follow at Fairview Cemetery, 315 Pinebush Road, Stone Ridge, N.Y. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Walter Hoving Home, 40 Walter Hoving Road, Garrison, N.Y., 10524. (www.GJMoylanFuneral Home.com)