Lamon Henry Benham

Lamon Henry Benham, age 82, passed away peacefully on July 7, 2026, surrounded by loved ones in his family home in Kettering, Ohio, where he had lived for 59 years.

Lamon’s life is celebrated by his community of new and lifelong friends, neighbors, co-workers, history buffs, and the family who all adored his warm humor and quick wit.

Lamon was born on August 21, 1943, to the late John Walter and Lucille Beham in Covington, Kentucky, where he grew up alongside his five siblings and graduated from Holmes High School. Lamon earned his nickname “Red” for his hair color that perfectly matched his fiery and playful personality. As a young boy, Lamon became an accomplished dancer and appeared on the Midwestern Hayride television show. He fondly recalled going to work at his grandfather’s newsstand and participating in the Boy Scouts.

In 1961, Lamon proudly joined the United States Army in service to our Country. He spent time stationed in Kitzingen, Germany. He toured around Europe, where he developed a lifelong fondness for beer and schnitzel, matched only by his deep patriotism and admiration for veterans.

Following his service, Lamon moved to Dayton, Ohio, where he worked at Emery Air Freight and met the love of his life, Linda (Barrere) Benham. They married in 1967, sharing 56 years, pouring their love into building a family, enjoying many adventures together, and creating a welcoming home for all. They were known for hosting many family gatherings and parties including their annual summer Luau.

Lamon’s career also included serving his community as a firefighter for the City of Dayton. Later he discovered a particular passion and natural gift for car sales, a profession he truly enjoyed interacting with long-time customers and colleagues who quickly became friends. Lamon also volunteered in support of special needs education and children with disabilities.

Throughout his life, Lamon developed many practical home-repair and building skills along with a reputation for having the right tools and advice for any project. He relished any opportunity to help. Lamon also possessed a deep appreciation for music, family genealogy, and history. He was an avid firearm collector and member of Ohio Gun Collector’s Association for over 35 years. He was a talented gunsmith, with a vast, respected knowledge of historical weaponry. His particular passion lay in Civil War-era firearms, though his impressive collection and expertise spanned all the way through World War II. For Lamon, these pieces were more than just historical artifacts; they represented the craftsmanship, dedication, and stories of the generations that came before. His patience, attention to detail, and love for sharing his knowledge will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Lamon was reunited in death with his cherished wife, who preceded him in 2023. He also joins his parents; his brothers, Jack (Jackie) and Doug Benham; his sisters, Laverne (John) Travis and Gail (Tom) Sexton; mother and father-in-law Delmar and Jean (Kirkwood) Barrere; brothers-in-law John White, Boyd, and John Barrere; and sister-in-law Debra (Randy) Walters and Carol Eckley, who have gone before him.

Lamon was most proud of his children and grandchildren, who are honored to carry his legacy and the love he and Linda shared into the future. He is survived by his sons, Michael (Barbara), Jason (Karen), and daughter, Kimberly; and his beloved grandchildren, Megan, Nathan, Lydia, Katherine, and Grant. He also leaves behind his sister, Lois White; sisters-in-law, Carol Benham, Regina (Lee Roy) Spencer, and Beverly Crowder; brother-in-law, Dennis (Gerry) Barrere and a wide circle of dear friends, nieces, and nephews.

A celebration of Lamon's life will be held on Sunday, July 26, 2026, at Routsong Funeral Home in Kettering, Ohio. Visitation will take place from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM, with a short memorial service beginning at 3:00 PM. Following the service, family and friends are invited to stay for food, drinks, and fellowship to share memories and honor Lamon's life.

In place of flowers, donations in Lamon’s memory may be made to DAV, Disabled American Veterans, at Help.DAV.org