PRINCIPAL Dr. George L. Benson Obituary

PRINCIPAL Dr. George L. Benson was faculty at Valhalla High School in El Cajon, CA. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Principal Dr. George L. Benson.

School Role	Faculty
Date of Passing	Mar 21, 2015
About	Birth: Jan. 27, 1934 Death: Mar. 21, 2015 Age 81 Benson, George L. 81 Jan. 27, 1934 Mar. 21, 2015 The Lord Jesus allowed George L. Benson to end his life with a win. After enjoying a Ducks victory in the NCAA basketball tournament, George suffered a massive stroke that led to his death Saturday night, March 21, 2015. He was 81. George is noted for his career as superintendent of Centennial School District in Gresham for 18 years. He was named the Oregon Superintendent of the Year in 1992. Teachers, administrators and coaches have celebrated his legacy as an advocate of education. George was born in Pasadena, Calif., grew up in Coronado, Calif., and graduated from Coronado High School in 1951, where his yearbook remembered him as "Gorgeous George." He was retired U.S. Navy, where he loved the moniker "Ensign Benson" and later became Lt. (JG). George earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Redlands, his M.A. from San Diego State University and his doctorate from the University of Oregon. He began his career as a teacher, coach and school principal in the Grossmont Union High School District in the San Diego area. In 1977, George and family moved to Lake Oswego, where he continued working in education and was an active member of the Lake Oswego United Methodist Church. After his retirement in 1996, George served his community through the Lake Oswego Rotary Club, Elders in Action, Oswego Heritage Council and the Lake Oswego Adult Community Center. In 2010, he was the recipient of the Bob Bigelow Lifetime Achievement Award by the Lake Oswego Chamber of Commerce. George loved his wife of 61 years, six children, 16 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Surrounded by his family, the final hours of George's life were celebrated through hymns, prayers and a cheerful rendition of the Oregon Ducks fight song. A private memorial service will be held. Published in The Oregonian from Mar. 24 to Mar. 25, 2015