He was born May 14, 1941, in Conneaut, Ohio, to Theodore Benson and Ann (Massac) Benson Fenton.
Alan married Susan (Snedden) on Aug. 23, 1986, in Coshocton, Ohio.
He had he had a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Master of Fine Arts and an ABD.
He was an associate professor at Kent State University in Theater from 1970 to 1994
He was an elder at First Christian Church of Carbondale and a scout leader for troop 133 in Carbondale.
He enjoyed photography, Blue Grass music, reading, camping and scouting with his son and he loved debating philosophy and theology.
Survivors include his wife, Susan Benson; his children, Melinda Benson and son-in-law, Chuck Caton of Cleveland, Ohio, and son, Alan Patrick Benson of Carbondale; brothers, Robert Fenton of Cleveland, Bart Fenton of Columbus and sister, Rosemary Barry of Cleveland.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Memorial services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 2, 2015 at the First Christian Church in Carbondale, with Pastor Katherine Graves officiating. Memorial visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, June 1, at Walker Funeral Home in Carbondale.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Alan’s name may be made to Department of Theater at Southern Illinois University Department of Theater 06597 Theater Undergraduate Scholarship, Mail Code 6608 SIU, 1100 Lincoln Drive, Comm. 1033, Carbondale, IL 62901 and the Department of Theater at Kent State University, 1061 Fraternity Circle, P.O. Box 5190 Kent, OH 44242, for scholarships for the students.
Patricia Vail
We are going to miss Alan's on-point comments of the passing scene on Facebook. He was feisty as well as thoughtful. I send my heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and all his myriad students. Can't you just see him still onstage in Guys and Dolls all those decades ago?! Pat Vail