Obituary: Josiah Victor Benator - Atlanta Jewish Times

Josiah Victor Benator was born on Feb. 4, 1922, in Atlanta, Ga. His father, Victor Morris Benator, came to the United States from Rhodes around 1913, joining the many shoemakers of the Sephardic community. He brought his wife, Estrella Deleon, from Rhodes soon thereafter and raised their five children on Pryor Street and as a part of the community of Or VeShalom Synagogue. During Josiah’s young life, deep in the years of the Depression, he tutored younger students to make extra money to pay for his Boy Scout uniforms. One of those students would one day be his wife of 76 years, Birdie Grace Benator, also of blessed memory.

Josiah went to college at Georgia Tech at 17 and studied industrial management. In 1943, he graduated with honors and enlisted in the Army, attending Fort Knox Officer Candidate School where he became second lieutenant. He was assigned to the 10th armored division of General Patton’s Third Army, training at Fort Gordon in Georgia until arriving in France in 1944, fighting the Nazi-controlled Germans in active combat. In December 1944, he moved with his unit to fight the Germans in Bastogne, Belgium, at the terrible Battle of the Bulge. His unit came under heavy mortar fire with great loss and Josiah was struck by a shell, suffering serious injuries. He thankfully rallied and became a commanding officer of a Labor Supervision Company in Germany and finally returned to the states in the summer of 1946, where he served in the reserves until 1953. His military awards included the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Badge, among many others and more recently the French Legion of Merit Award.

In 1947, after so many war-time love letters, Birdie Grace Benveniste traveled across the country from California to join Josiah at the Or VeShalom Veteran’s Banquet. The family decided that they would throw a surprise engagement party and Josiah married Birdie Benator in August of that very same year. They together raised seven children and were the joyful grandparents of 13 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Josiah’s love for Birdie was eternal.

Josiah’s career as a Boy Scout began in 1934 at the age of 12 with Troop 52. By 1938, he was an assistant scout master, earned the rank of Eagle Scout, and ultimately, in 1950, he became “Mr. B,” Scout Master of Troop 73 with Or VeShalom. There, he continued that work with passion and devotion until he was 99 years old, mentoring 53 Eagle Scouts and countless boys as they learned to love scouting, the great outdoors and to live by the 12 principles of the Boy Scouts.

Josiah’s career after his military service took him from materials management at Scripto to Rayloc AutoParts in 1969. His love of his community at Or VeShalom was always a center of his life from Boy Scouts to observance of Shabbat. He served as president and in years on the board, he stood strong for the role of women in leadership roles. He also served his community as President of the Dekalb Grand Jurors Association and President and Co-captain of the Neighborhood Watch Sheffield Civic Club.

His awards have included many from the Atlanta Area Council of Boy Scouts of America, the Shofar Adult Religious Award, and the Role Model Scout Master Award. Additionally, he received the Hadassah Myrtle Wreath Award for a Lifetime of Love and Encouragement of Children, the West Point Society of Atlanta Outstanding Citizen Award, and the Rev. Robert Ross Johnson Humanitarian Award. Each of these awards he attributes to his ever-devoted wife, Birdie.

Josiah is survived by his children, Rachel Benator, Terry and Alan Feldbaum, Stella and Jim Port, Isaac Benator, Debra Benator and Randall Wagner, Chris and David Benator and Naomi and Dan Benator, grandchildren, Robin Tillery, Victor and Lynee Port, Jackie and Bernie Caballero, Sarah Feldbaum, Daniel Feldbaum, Tzipora Wagner and Phillippe Phanivong, Naami Wagner, Kalman Wagner, Jacob Benator and Sarah Berry, Leah Benator, Jordan Benator and Leo Benator, and great-grandchildren, Hudson and Sayler Port and Colten and Norah Caballero. Josiah is pre-deceased by his beloved son, Victor Benator, his grandson, Richard Tillery, his son-in-law, Randy Tillery, and by his wife of 76 years, Birdie Grace Benator.

May his memory be a blessing and may Josiah Victor Benator rest in eternal peace.

Donations in memory of Josiah may be made to the OrVeShalom Dr. Victor Benator Memorial Fund: https://www.orveshalom.org/payment.php (details: Dr. V Benator Memorial), or to the Atlanta Area Boy Scouts of America: https://www.atlantabsa.org/fos

Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

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