Clarence Arnold Bender, 87 of Foster, WV, gained his angel wings on March 7, 2025 in the comfort of his home surrounded by loved ones.

He was born July 25, 1937 in Logan County, WV to Page Bender and Annie (Bell) Bender.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by nine brothers and two sisters, Ronald, Don, Bob, Kermit, Max, Curtis, Cecil, Edwin, Page Jr, Louise and Lydia, brothers-in-law, Oscar Boling, Bob Boling and his father and mother-in-law, Eugene and Ernestine Boling.

To know Clarence was a blessing. He always put the care and love of others before himself. His family was his number one priority. He cherished his wife, kids and grandchildren more than life itself.

Clarence was one of the hardest workers you have ever met. During his 87 years he was a farmer, worked for the board of education, a miner, demolition, logger, scrap dealer, farrier and many other trades. He loved cooking, hunting, fishing and camping with his kids and grandchildren, riding four wheelers with his grandchildren, teaching them all things he has to pass down. Clarence was a daddy and papaw to everyone who needed him. He never could let a kid pass him without reaching his hand out to give them a high five, most of the time accompanied with a $1.00 bill. He always had all 20 of us for Sunday breakfast, he was our matriarch. Clarence will forever live on with each of us and generations to come.

Those left to live on for him and carry on his memory include his loving wife of 57 years Clara; two kids, Jerry Bender (Tina) and Beverly Sansom (George); grandkids, Aaron Bender, Justin Bender (Allison), Zach Sansom (Alexis), Andy Sansom (Jessica), Lacey Cornell (Nick), Kenton Sansom, Payson Sansom, Kain Sansom, Emmett Sansom, Gabe Cornell, and Braylea Cornell; his brother, Vernon Bender (Donna); sisters-in-law, Diana Bender, Billie Bender, Sherry Bender; a host of nieces and nephews and Clara's siblings which he took in like his kids before he had kids and loved them so, Donna Bender (Vernon), Sharon Kay Prichard (Paul), Mary Williamson (Kenny), John Boling (Tami), Rhonda Boling and Butch Boling.

A special thank you to Tina Bender and George Sansom. They were never in-laws to him. They were always his kids from the start. Through all of the battles we have faced they were there step by step caring, loving and helping.

Services will be held at 1:00pm, Saturday, March 15, 2025 at Freeman Funeral Home with David Sperry officiating. Burial will follow at the Bender Family Cemetery, Foster, WV.

Visitation will be on Friday, March 14, 2025 from 6:00pm until 9:00pm at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be Aaron Bender, Zach Sansom, Justin Bender, Andy Sansom, Jerry Bender, George Sansom, Nick Cornell and Drake Levo.

Freeman Funeral Home, Chapmanville, WV is in charge of the arrangements.