Barbara Lee Benoit Dolezal, 88, of Paducah, Kentucky, passed away on September 11, 2024.
Mom retired as an Executive Administrative Assistant at Big Rivers Electric in Henderson, KY. Prior to that, she had worked at Proctor & Gamble in Cincinnati, OH, Walter Born Real Estate Agency in Akron, OH, and H&R Block in Akron, OH. Mom was a member of Highland Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mom loved traveling, singing, playing the piano, dancing, cooking, feeding the birds, and always being there for her family, friends, and neighbors.
Mom made friends so very easily throughout her life. Mom was very accepting to everyone she met, and was soon deeply loved by everyone she came in contact with. Mom always had a twinkle in her eye, and after having met her, within minutes people felt as if they had known mom all their lives. In her later years while dealing with Alzheimer’s, mom mostly sat back observing, and then when asked, mom shared her kind thoughts and words. Simply said, mom was sweet.
Mom was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Edward “Ed” Dolezal. Her sons are eternally grateful to Ed as he “saved” mom’s life and treated her with love, respect, compassion, and commitment for the remainder of his life. Thanks Ed for being the husband and man that mom cherished and needed.
Mom was also preceded in death by her parents, Arthur Lee Benoit and Ivol Wilma Patten. Mom was also a descendant of John Alden and Priscilla Mullins who arrived in America during the early 1600’s.
Mom is survived by her three sons, John (Sean Blake) McMillan of Cuyahoga Falls, OH; Mickey McMillan of Stow, OH, and Scott (Janet) McMillan of Taylors, SC; and her stepdaughter Stephanie Wilke of Kuttawa, KY.
Mom is also survived by grandchildren Taylor (Tyler) Ricker, Katelyn McMillan, Ross McMillan, Emily McMillan, Brent (Marybeth) Taylor, Shane Liddel, Jessica Dolezal; great grandchildren Nolan Ricker, Myles Ricker, Abe Taylor, Ainsley Taylor; and several cousins, nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nieces and friends.
The family wishes to thank Charter Senior Living of Paducah and Landmark of Kuttawa for their care of mom.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00pm, Thursday, September 19, 2024 at the Lone Oak Chapel of Milner & Orr Funeral Home with Rev. Bud Russell officiating, where we will gather to honor mom’s memory and celebrate the love, kindness, and joy she shared with all of us throughout her life. Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 19, 2024 from 11:00 a.m. until service time of 1:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will immediately follow at Highland Church Cemetery where mom will be buried alongside Ed.
In lieu of flowers, and if desired, donations may be made to either Highland Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 3950 Lovelaceville Road, Paducah, KY 42001, or The Alzheimer’s Association, 6100 Dutchman Lane, Suite 401, Louisville, KY 40205.