Roland John Benjamin, PhD, died peacefully at Tucson (AZ) Medical Center on June 13, 2023 at 95 years of age. He was born May 18, 1928 near Williamsfield, Illinois, the son of Harley W. and Beulah Doubet Benjamin. He married Maxine Cadwell, daughter of Delbert A. and Rose McMillan Cadwell, on June 25, 1950.
Surviving are his daughter Nancy (Kent) Kwoh; granddaughters, Laura Kwoh (Anuj Patel) and Sarah Kwoh (Brian Farrell); and great-granddaughter, Reya Kwoh-Patel. He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, and two brothers, Hollis and Jerald.
Roland graduated from Williamsfield High School in 1945 and enlisted in the Army during World War II, serving in the Army of Occupation in Japan. In 1950 he graduated from the University of Illinois with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and later earned his doctorate in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics there in 1955.
He subsequently worked in aerospace engineering for North American Aviation, Downey California, and Cook Research Laboratories, Morton Grove, Illinois, and later became one of the early pioneers in the field of microinch-precision diamond machining of optical lenses at Bell & Howell and Hughes Optical Products in the Chicago area, retiring from the latter as Chief Scientist in 1990.
He and his wife, both avid genealogists, researched and travelled widely together prior to her death in 2006. He was also a highly skilled woodworker and a member of the Society of American Period Furniture Makers, concentrating primarily on fine American furniture of the late 18th century Queen Anne period.
A graveside service will be held on Saturday, June 24 at 10:00 am at the Williamsfield Cemetery, with arrangements being handled by Watson Thomas Funeral Home and Crematory, Galesburg.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in memory of his beloved wife. Online expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.watsonthomas.com.
