Jerrel Ward Benson, M.D., 84, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2008, in Medina.

He was born Dec. 27, 1923, in Oakland, Miss. Dr. Benson graduated valedictorian of his high school class in 1941. He then received his associate degree from Northwest Mississippi Junior College in 1943, undergraduate degree from the University of Mississippi in 1945 and graduated from Johns Hopkins Medical School in 1948. Dr. Benson served his residency at University Hospital of Cleveland and Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. From 1942 to 1946, he served in the Army during World War II. He was stationed at Camp McCain, Grenada, Miss., where he was a medical technician assessing hearing loss on an artillery base and a surgical technician at Fort Meade, Md. He received the Good Conduct Medal, American Theater Ribbon and World War II Victory Ribbon. From 1951 to 1953, he served in the Air Force during the Korean War at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Ala. There, Dr. Benson served as a captain, practicing plastic surgery, and serving as chief of the general surgery section, he received the National Defense Service Medal. He was chief of plastic surgery at Crile VA Hospital with full-time appointment in general surgery from 1957 to 1958. Dr. Benson was chief of surgery at Cleveland VA Hospital from 1964 to 1986 and acting chief of surgery service from 1993 to 1994, retiring after 38 years of service. He was chief of surgery at the former Highland View Hospital in 1958 until it merged with MetroHealth Medical Center in 1980 and continued working with MetroHealth until his retirement in 1997. Dr. Benson also provided service to patients at Sunny Acres Skilled Nursing facility.

Dr. Benson was an associate professor emeritus of surgery at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. He was a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and was a member of the Cleveland Surgical Society, Pasteur Club, Aesculapian Society, Central Surgical Society and a founding member of the Association of Veterans Administration Surgeons. He enjoyed photography, gardening and genealogy.

Dr. Benson is survived by his wife of 57 years, Josephine Delores (nee Krempa); sons, David Scott (Rhonda) of West Chester, Ohio, Dr. Mark Alan (Kate) of Glendale, Ariz., and Dr. Daniel Ward (Kelly) of Sylvania, Ohio; daughter, Laura Jane (Larry) Benson Szekely of Granger Township; grandchildren, Erin, Kendra, Keith, Meghan, Sarah, Matthew, Martha and Caroline; brothers, Leon H. (Dorothy) of Olive Branch, Miss., and Donald Ray (Margaret) of Charleston, Miss.

Mass of Christian Burial: 10 a.m. Monday at Holy Martyrs Catholic Church, 3100 S. Weymouth Road, Medina Township. The Rev. Stephen J. Dohner will officiate.

Visiting hours: 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Waite & Son Funeral Homes, Medina Chapel, 765 N. Court St., and one hour prior to the Mass on Monday at the church.

Memorial contributions may be made to the MetroHealth Foundation, 2500 MetroHealth Drive, Cleveland, 44109-1998.