Joseph Raymond Benner, "Ray", born April 27, 1940 in Philadelphia, PA, passed away on October 28, 2022 at 82 years old.

Ray was a life-long learner and entrepreneur since high school when he started the first of his many businesses, from egg route to Weavers poultry store, and various retail businesses.  As a young man, he became an Eagle Scout, attended Oxford Circle Mennonite & OC Baptist Churches, graduated from Northeast HS, where he played football for them and previously Frankford HS, as offensive lineman and defense, playing both sides during the games!  Ray then attended Drexel U night school and played 2 years Semi Pro football for Tinicum Championship Team. He went on to marry his high school sweetheart Janet with whom he had 5 children by age 25. He opened business after business, and in 1974 purchased Mapes 5 & 10 Store, the oldest store in Narberth. He expanded the business to 9 stores, operating as many as 7 locations at one time. At Mapes, he employed his children, grandchildren, and thousands of locals over the decades until the last store closed 48 years later this May.  As a boss and mentor, he taught a good work ethic and the importance of goal setting and was determined to offer his employees opportunities to grow. He taught that every job done well is an honorable one. He led by example and taught his children to work hard and to overcome any obstacle, whatever it took. Ray was the 'eternal optimist.'

In his professional and personal life alike, he was a generous man and actively gave back to his community. He was member of rotary clubs, chambers of commerce, business associations, Masons, CEO Club and the Sons of the American Revolution. He supported the local police & fire companies, scout troops and especially the community of Narberth and their events and St Margaret's School & their students at report card time! Always a pen in his breast pocket, he enjoyed coproducing the Narberth Centennial book, published business articles and his own book 'Main Street Mercenaries'. In his downtime, he enjoyed genealogy and discovering that his distant cousin was a bodyguard of George Washington! He also enjoyed his library, meditation, the Eagles and playing pinocle & blackjack with his family & friends.

Ray is survived by his beautiful and loving wife of 63 years, Janet Frances Callen Benner, as well as his loyal brother George Benner (Carol), children Raymond J Benner Sr. (Mary), Russell Scott Benner (Beth), R. Timothy Benner, and Janet S. Schmidt (Steve). He is also survived by 9 grandchildren and 1 great-granddaughter who lit up his life everyday: Ray Jr, Chris, Michael, Sean, Madison, Savannah, Regan, Stephen, Sam & Ava. Ray is predeceased by his sister Marge (Butch), loving son John Benner, and his dear grandson Brett Benner. Ray's legacy is defined today and in the future by the success stories of his children, grandchildren and great-granddaughter. He will be dearly missed by all.

Relatives and friends are invited to a Visitation on Friday November 25, 3:59 PM   with Funeral Service to begin at 5:30 PM at McConaghy Funeral Home 328 Lancaster Ave, Ardmore PA 19003

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his name to the Merion Liberty Boy Scout Troop at 625 Hazelhurst Ave Merion PA 19066 or Narberth Boy Scout Troop 176 at 196 Woodbine Ave Narberth PA 19072.