George Harry Benford April 1, 1921 - March 2, 2010 COLUMBUS, GA— Major U.S. Army (Ret.) George Harry Benford, 88, of Columbus, GA, died Tuesday, March 2, 2010 at St. Francis Hospital. A memorial service with full military honors will be held Friday, March 5, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. at Spring Harbor with Rev. Mark Magoni officiating. A private interment will be held at Ft. Benning Main Post Cemetery. The family will receive friends Friday afternoon from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. at Spring Harbor according to McMullen Funeral Home, 3874 Gentian Blvd., Columbus, GA 31907. Major (Ret.) George Harry Benford lovingly referred to as "PopPop" was born April 1, 1921 in Fairfield, Conn. He married Anita Taliaferro in 1942. They spent 20 years in the Army traveling all over with six children. He retired in 1965 and moved back to Columbus where he spent several tours of duty at Ft. Benning. He joined AFLAC in 1969 and moved to Annapolis, Maryland as state manager in 1972. He retired from AFLAC and moved to St. Augustine, Florida. He lived there until he moved back to Columbus in 1993. Since moving was his way of life, he decided to once again pack up and move to Fredericksburg, Virginia. He remained there until he decided to come "home" to Columbus. He loved the Kiwanis organization and served as Lt. Governor and was awarded a Life Time Membership in St. Augustine. He carried out his passion for Kiwanis in his beloved Kiwanis Club of Columbus. He has a long list of accomplishments and awards. He was an Episcopalian all his life and served his churches with great dedication and commitment. After his first wife of over 60 years passed away he moved to Spring Harbor. There he met LaVerne Bishop and they married in 2006. They spent many happy years at Spring Harbor, and he leaves behind many friends. His family will most remember him for his loving compassion and spirit. He was such a sentimental person and was never abash to shed a tear. He was friend to everyone and anyone he met. He will live on in the family that loved him so. He is survived by his wife, LaVerne Bishop Benford, his children and their spouses, George Benford, Jr. (Patty), Barbara Kennon (Kelsey), Nancy Burgess (Dave), David Benford (Nancy Ann), Tami Buss (Stewart), and JoAnn Moorer (Andy), 18 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, and two stepdaughters and their spouses, Lynn Malloy (Jimmy), Sharon Jernigan (Jerry), and their 3 children and 7 grandchildren. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Kiwanis Club of Columbus Foundation, P.O. Box 1331, Columbus, GA 31902. Those who wish may sign the online guest registry at www.mcmullenfuneralhome.com.