Darius Benson

Janesville- Darius A. Benson, 49, of State Route 10, died unexpectedly on Saturday, March 9, 2013 in the Cayuga Lake area.

Born August 27, 1963 in Cobleskill, he was the son of David A. and Katherine (Rockwell) Benson. Darius was a 1982 graduate of the former Cobleskill Central School and was a dairy farmer until March of 2002. Currently he was a self employed truck driver and also worked for Cold Springs Farm of Seward.

Darius touched many lives in his travels. His smile and personality were electric, his capacity to love unmatched, and openly expressed toward family and friends alike. He was the well played Santa for the past eight years for "Little Italy Santa Comes to Town" and he so loved his role. He also enjoyed camping and traveling with friends and family, and poker with the guys. A hero in every sense, he was always there to help with a kind hand and will be sorely missed.

Survivors include his wife: Colleen (Bascomb) Benson, whom he married August 25, 1984; his children: Ryan (fiancé, Danette Price) Benson of Howes Cave and Andrew (Krystal Page) Benson of Central Bridge; "secondary son" Jeremy (Angie) Clapper of Janesville: four sisters: Deborah Benson of Morganfield, KY, Vicky (Steve) Boettcher, of Albuquerque, NM, Mary Jane (John) Aron of Sloansville and Polly (Rob) Henzler of Central Bridge; his brother, Dan (Brenda) Benson of FL; mother-in-law, Marion (Rickard) Bascomb of Cobleskill; brothers and sisters-in-laws: Paul (Mary Ann) Bascomb, Kathy (Mike) Moore, Michael (Diane Spano) Bascomb, and Connie (Ed) Elsensohn all of Cobleskill; his very dear friends: Ray and Deb Steidle and Jed Shamansky; and many nieces and nephews.

A funeral liturgy will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, March 14, 2013 at St. Vincent de Paul Church, 138 Washington Ave. Cobleskill with Sr. Connie James as celebrant. Family and friends are also invited to a period of visitation to be held on Wednesday, March 13, from 5 to 8 PM at Mereness-Putnam Funeral Home, 171 Elm St., Cobleskill. Cremation will follow the service at Vale Crematory.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Cobleskill Regional Hospital, 178 Grandview Dr., Cobleskill, NY 12043 or The Rolphie Fund, care of Linda Karker, 665 Bush Rd., Cobleskill, NY 12043.