Charles R. Bentz
Charles Roger Bentz, M.D., 71 of Warren, Pennsylvania passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 8, 2016 surrounded by family and friends at his home. He was born on Thursday, December 21, 1944 in Decatur to Roger and Jane Bentz.
He grew up on a farm in Adams County. In his youth, he enjoyed swimming, playing basketball, little league baseball, and skating on area farm ponds in winter. He attended Berne-French Twp. Schools K-12 and graduated valedictorian of his high school class. He attended Franklin College of Indiana, where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree and was valedictorian of his class. He graduated from Vanderbilt Medical School in Nashville, Tennessee. He interned at San Bernardino Co. General Hospital in California for one year then was drafted into the U.S. Navy, where he was on active duty at Camp Pendleton, California for three years. He was a Navy doctor assigned to the Marines.
After discharge, he settled in Kane, Pennsylvania, where he had a private family practice and emergency medical practice and raised his family of nine natural and adopted children. He loved his patients and enjoyed coaching basketball and little league baseball and attending his children’s athletic endeavors. He also enjoyed running marathons, cross country and downhill skiing, biking, orienteering, hiking, boating, gardening, woodworking and outdoor life in general.
He was married in 1997 to Lynn Ehrenberger Samuels. They resided in Warren, Pennsylvania in an idyllic home along the Allegheny River. While in Warren, he worked as an emergency room physician at Warren General Hospital, from which he retired. He continued many of his outdoor activities and also took up kayaking and karate; earning an advanced black belt degree.
Following retirement, they began wintering in Sun City Center, Florida, where he remained physically active playing softball, biking, and swimming. He also took up stained glass and watercolor painting, and continued his woodworking and learned gardening in Florida. He was a member of Unity Southshore in Ruskin, Florida.
He was very grateful for his many friends and supporters in Kane, Warren, and Sun City Center and the surrounding areas, as well as many mentors in his youth and adulthood. He appreciated greatly the love and support of his parents, siblings, in-laws, and children; and especially his beloved wife, whose family was a source of much caring and devotion.
He is survived by his wife; nine natural and adopted children, Kim Maze, Ann, Eduardo, David, Daniel, Charles III, Julie, Wayne and Eugene; two brothers, Edward (Mary) Bentz, M.D.; Philip (Terri) Bentz, M.D; two sisters, Suellen (Ben) Bluhm; and Jane Fink; three brothers-in-law, Dennis (Arlene) Ehrenberger; Bruce (Gail) Ehrenberger; and Michael (Anne) Ehrenberger; two sisters-in-law, Leslie (Al) Tarquino; and Lucille Jordan; and many grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
In accordance with his request, there will be no visitation. A celebration of life service will be held in Warren, Pennsylvania on Sunday, June 25, 2017 with additional details to be published at a later date through the Peterson-Blick Funeral Home, Inc.
Memorials may be made to Warren General Hospital; Warren Cancer Care Center; Vanderbilt Medical School Office, of Annual Giving, PMB 407727, 2301 Vanderbilt Place, Nashville, TN 37240-7727; or Franklin College, 101 Branigin Blvd, Franklin, IN 46131.
Arrangements provided by Peterson-Blick Funeral Home, Inc. in Warren, Pennsylvania. Online condolences may be made at www.petersonblickfuneralhome.com.