Arlen Benner

Arlen Benner passed away on March 3, 2026 unexpectedly at Haven Health in Tucson, Arizona.

Arlen was the 9th of 11 children and 7th boy of Norman Yoder Benner and Emma Freed Benner (Detweiler), his brother Robert Benner passed as an infant in 1940. Arlen was born in Sellersville, Pennsylvania on February 2, 1955. He grew up in East Anaheim, California after his mother moved her 10 children from Souderton, Pennsylvania  in 1958 after his father's unfortunate and untimely passing. Arlen spent his youth days riding bikes with friends, going to Christian church (very much a believer and follower of the Bible), listening to blues and rock n' roll music, and partaking in his favorite pass-time - baseball. He loved everything involving baseball, from playing in Little League to walking 3 miles through the orange groves to see his beloved Angels play as a Day 1 fan for only 75 cents, to eventually playing baseball at Cypress College in his early 20s. He and his brother Dennis had a job as paper boys when Arlen was 7-8 years old and even delivered papers to Angels player Jim Fregosi who lived just one street over.

Arlen went to Western High School and moved to Houston, Texas in 1973 where he got his GED. He continued to live there for 3 years with his roommate and best friend that continued for life - Elwood "Woody" Johnson. While living in Houston he worked graveyard shift for a sheet metal company. Coming back home to Orange County in 1976 for his sister Linda's wedding, he moved back home and went to Cypress College where he took gen eds and majored in physical fitness and baseball. He met his future wife, Julie Roller, in 1976 through mutual friends of his brother Barry, and they married in 1979 (div 1997). They spent 18 years together living in Stanton, Garden Grove, & Buena Park, California, and in Cottonwood and Tucson, Arizona. They had 4 children together- Ryan born in 1979, Jillian in 1984, Sean in 1987, and Spencer in 1992. Arlen, Julie, and the family moved to Cottonwood, Arizona in 1992, relocating to Tucson, in 1993 where he lived until his passing. Arlen spent many years as a wood worker and solderer, was talented with his hands at making expert level products for customers, and designed bunk beds for his children. 

Arlen loved his family - his mom with whom he would write letters with and talk on the phone to often, his 6 brothers - Leonard, Norman, Ron, Larry, Dennis, and Barry and 3 sisters - Joan, Linda, and Donna, and his children more than anything in the world. In his free time he was an avid pool player who won many local tournaments in Tucson and also loved watching and talking about baseball and sports, listening to rock music, spending time with his children, and watching movies and TV shows. He will be remembered for his great sense of humor, his kindness towards others, his cooking, his passionate enthusiasm for his hobbies, and most of all being our Dad and friend. 

He is missed, remembered, and loved every day.