L. B. Bensinger Dies After Long Illness

L. B. Bensinger, retired vice president of Kraus Cleaners, died Friday morning at his home at 217 North McLean, following an illness of three years.

Mr. Bensinger was born in Jackson, Tenn. 61 years ago and came to Memphis as a child. A pioneer in the cleaning business in Memphis, he had been with Kraus for 35 years, and was formerly a director in the National Institute of Cleaning and Dyeing.

Mr. Bensinger was a charter member of the Memphis Downtown Kiwanis Club, a past master of Lelia Scott Masonic Lodge 289, and an active member of the Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of Temple Israel. His activities had been greatly limited since his illness, but he continued occasionally to attend meetings of the Shrine Luncheon Club in which many of his friends and longtime associates were members.

A fishing enthusiast, he enjoyed a week’s cruise at Bayou La Batre, Mobile, each summer.

Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Edeline Geronin Bensinger; a son, Alfred Bensinger; a daughter, Mrs. Melvin Olswanger, Sr.; a brother, Julian Bensinger; three grandchildren and two stepsons, H. I. Summerfield Jr. and Lt. Jerry Summerfield, all of Memphis.

Services were held Sunday morning with the Rev. Dr. Harry W. Ettelson officiating. Interment was in Temple Israel Cemetery.

Hebrew Watchman

February 24, 1955, page 10