Remembering Fred Filbeck
Written by Justin D. Lamb
Fred and Genoa Filbeck
The son of J.H. and Eliza Filbeck, Fred Filbeck was born four miles east of Benton on May 20, 1893. He worked on his family’s farm until he was drafted in the United States Army on July 21, 1918. Filbeck served during the duration of World War I and was discharged in February 1919.
Following the war, Filbeck returned home to farming until the fall of 1923 when a job selling life insurance landed him in Gilbertsville. A short eight months later, Filbeck moved to Benton when he gained employment as a bookkeeper with J.D. Peterson Company which sold general merchandise items including caskets. Filbeck bought interest in the casket division of the company and quickly became interested in the funeral business. He formed a partnership with J.P. Stilley in October 1925 and the two operated a funeral service in town. Two years later, Filbeck bought out Stilley’s interest and enrolled at Gipton-Jones School of Embalming at Nashville where he received his diploma in April 1928.
When he returned to Kentucky, he was licensed by the State Board of Embalming of Kentucky and his wife, Genoa, whom he married in 1917, also became a licensed funeral director (the third woman in Kentucky to do so). The two ran the Filbeck Funeral Home side by side as equal partners. In 1936, the Filbecks constructed a new brick funeral home on the corner of courtsquare which was the first funeral chapel in Benton. A partnership was formed with Otto Cann in 1939 and together they formed the Filbeck & Cann Funeral home.
Beside his role in the funeral business, Fred Filbeck was active in civic affairs in Marshall County. He was a charter member of the Benton Young Men’s Progress Club and served in various leadership roles. During his time with the club, several improvement projects were completed throughout Benton including the installation of street signs, sidewalks, and stop lights. The club also took an active role in securing Benton as one of the locations of the General Cigar Factory which manufactured White Owl Cigars.
Filbeck was active in the preservation of Big Singing Day and severed on numerous committees which helped keep the unique pastime alive in Benton.
Filbeck was a director for the Bank of Benton and served as Vice President for many years. He was active in the American Legion, T.L. Jefferson Lodge, Modern Woodmen of the World, Shrine Temple, and was a devout member of the Benton Church of Christ. Filbeck was also highly active in the Southern Funeral Directors Association and served as Coroner of Marshall County throughout the 1930s and ‘40s.
Upon the passing of Fred Filbeck in February 1952 the Tribune-Democrat commented, “the town of Benton and Marshall County has lost a real substantial citizen. A large void has been created by his death.” Following his death, Otto Cann and Genoa Filbeck became equal business partners and operated the funeral home for several years. Genoa’s death came on April 28, 1979 and she was buried beside her husband in the Briensburg Cemetery.