Benny A Greer

Benny A. Greer, 81, of Elyria, died November 22, 2023 after a lengthy illness.  He was born April 26, 1942 in Elyria and was a 1960 graduate of Elyria High School.  At the age of 10, he was a paperboy for the Chronicle Telegram with 72 customers.  In the early 1950’s he was a volunteer airplane spotter for The Ground Observer Corps collecting and recording air traffic information which he then reported.  After the 1959 flood in Cascade Park, he was hired as a park ranger which included taking care of the bears.  Upon gradating from high school, he was employed by the Chronicle Telegram as an apprentice printer, where he met the love of his life, Kathy and were married November 30, 1963.  He worked briefly at the Cleveland Press and for over 10 years at the Cleveland Plain Dealer as a printer.  Benny was an active member of the ITU Local 53 and served on the executive committee, union label committee and was a delegate to the Cleveland AFL/CIO.  He was active on the grape boycott when the UFW was organizing in California.  He later became a realtor, retiring from Howard Hanna after 40 years and was chairman of Professional Standards of Lorain County Board of Realtors and Grievance Committee.  During this time, he also worked as a civil appraiser for the Lorain County Sheriff.   Benny was an active member of Washington Avenue Christian Church, serving as a deacon and social action chairman.  He and his wife enjoyed vacationing in Cape Cod, however, their best remembered vacations were traveling to Niagara Falls with their young grandson, Keith. 

Benny is survived by his wife of 59 years, Kathleen (nee Siffert); sons, John (Trisha) Greer and Paul (Moneice Nolan) Greer and daughter, Jennifer Shaffstall, all of Elyria; grandson, Keith Sabo; granddaughter, Elaine Shaffstall; great-grandson, Corey Sabo; brother, Charles “Cookie” (Janet) Greer of Bullhead City, AZ; sister, Lynn Lowrey of Edmond, OK and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his mother and step-father, Jacqueline and James Waldron; father and step-mother, Charles and Lucille Greer; son-in-law, Alan Shaffstall and brother-in-law, Ron Lowrey.

Friends will be received Wednesday, November 29, 2023 from 4:00 pm until the time of a 6:00 pm service at Dicken Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 323 Middle Avenue, Elyria with Reverend Nathan A. Russell officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made to Washington Avenue Christian Church, 301 Washington Avenue, Elyria, Ohio 44035.

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