Curtis "Curt" Benson, 73, passed away peacefully at home under the care of hospice, on Jan. 7, 2018. Curt was born in Richmond, Calif., on Jan. 16, 1944, to the late Curtis and Mildred Benson. They moved to San Jose when he was very young, where he graduated from Willow Glen High School and attended college. He worked as an explosive technician at Stanford Research Institute for almost 20 years. He married Gaylene Long in 1966 in San Jose, where they raised Steve, Danny and Tracy. In 1989, the travel bug hit and the family headed cross-country and found St. Simons Island, making the decision to settle permanently. Curt worked at Jered Brothers for many years and Boater's World after retirement. Curt was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church at Frederica. He was preceded in death by his mother; father; and daughter, Tracy. He is survived by wife, Gaylene; two sons, Steve (Lisa) and Danny (Annie); three grandchildren, Stephanie, Justin (Kailey) and Tracy; and two great-grandsons, Rhody and Tate. A memorial service to celebrate Curt's life will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018, at Wesley United Methodist Church at Frederica, with a reception to follow. A private family ceremony will be held on Friday. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to FaithWorks Ministries, P.O. Box 2902, Brunswick, GA 31521, or Hospice of the Golden Isles, 1692 Glynco Parkway, Brunswick, GA 31525.