Benny Lee Green, 67, of Olney, passed away at 9:36 p.m. Monday, April 29, 2013, at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. after having suffered a heart attack and a stroke nine days earlier.

Benny was born September 30, 1945, in Richland County, the son of Robert L. and Eloise K. (Reed) Green. He married Mary Candice (Arras) on September 17, 1977. She survives.

He graduated from East Richland High School in 1964 and served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. He then attained a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Maryville College in 1975.

Benny retired as a police sergeant from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, where he also worked as an undercover narcotics detective and patrol officer. During this time, he was awarded the Medal of Valor and received 22 letters of commendation. He was very proud of being a St. Louis police officer. For five years, he was the assistant director of security for ITT Financial Corporation. He then owned and operated Dream Fields, a sports complex in Sunset Hills, Mo., where he enjoyed coaching softball and baseball as well as managing the fields. In 2011, he returned to Olney, the place where he grew up, with his two faithful canine companions, Duke and Coco.

Benny was best known as a fun-loving, social and loyal person. He enjoyed spending time with his sons, family and many friends with whom he loved to laugh with and "remember when." He was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan. He enjoyed attending their annual spring training and closely following their season. He will be missed by his family and friends.

He is survived by two sons, Stephen and wife, Heather, of St. Louis, and Kevin Green, of St. Louis; two sisters, Juanita Small, of Olney, and Judith Kocher and husband, Jan, of Claremont; nieces and nephews, Tonia Inskeep and husband, Ben, of Claremont, Stacey Small, of Carbondale, Kerry Kocher and wife, Sabrina, of Claremont, Shelly Small, of Carmel, Ind., and Melissa Smith and husband, Adam, of Flora; and great-nieces and great-nephews Mikaela and Raley Inskeep, Kadence Kocher, and Carson and Connor Smith.

Funeral services at Summers-Kistler Funeral Home in Olney with Minister Jim Corona officiating. Burial in Ebenezer Cemetery in rural Olney.

Published in Olney Daily Mail (IL)