Wesley Bender was born September 17, 1920 on the family farm just South of Shattuck to Alexander and Maria (Krentz) Bender. Wesley grew up in the Shattuck area and was inducted into the United States Army on September 21, 1942 where he served as a Cook until his discharge in October 1945.

Mr. Bender worked for the county and did farming after his military service and eventually was the owner of Bender Construction Co. doing soil and water conservation work by building terraces, diversions, ponds and dams for farmers. Although the majority of his work was in Ellis County around Shattuck, he also built many terraces in Lipscomb County, Texas from Follett to Booker.

Wesley enjoyed the outdoors and operating heavy equipment. He was active in Cub Scouts when his sons were young and enjoyed fishing with his family before and after retirement. He also enjoyed feeding deer, wild turkey and other game birds at his home South of Woodward, Oklahoma during his retirement.

Most recently Wesley was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Woodward, Oklahoma.

Mr. Bender died March 25, 2010 in the home of his stepdaughter Chris Hamby who lovingly cared for him in his final days. He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers Alexander (Alex), William (Bill), Alvin and Roy Bender and six sisters Anna Ehrlich, Mary Kelln, Elizabeth (Lizzie) Stahler, Laura Ruf, Hannah Youck, and Esther Hunter, first wife of 5 years Christine (Cazzell) Bender (divorced) and second wife of 41 years Rose (Peil) Bender.

Survivors include his wife Zelpha and her children David and Peggy of the home; a son Keith Bender and his wife Sharon of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and a daughter Kathy (Bender) Bonham and her husband Robert of Ardmore Oklahoma, from his first wife; a son Gregory (Greg) Bender and his wife Toni of Kingfisher, Oklahoma, and a stepdaughter Chris Hamby and her husband Randy of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, from his second wife; nine grandchildren and three spouses; and 18 great grandchildren.