Kenneth Max Benningfield

Memorial services for Max Benningfield will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the First United Methodist Church with Reverend Taylor Anderson officiating. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Marshall Funeral Home of Alva. Kenneth Max, son of the late Kenneth Roy and Della Pearl (Steward) Benningfield, was born March 6, 1934, on the family farm west of Alva near Cora, and passed away peacefully February 14, 2025, at Alva, at the age of 90 years, 11 months, and 8 days just weeks from his 91st birthday. Max attended Farry School and later received his Bachelor’s Degree from Northwestern Oklahoma State College. On August 26, 1954 he was united in marriage to LaDonna Joan White at the Christian Church in Alva. He volunteered to serve in the United States Army for 3 years before he was honorably discharged after serving in the Korean War. After leaving the Army, Max remained a proud veteran supporting veterans’ causes throughout his life. Max was also a proud member of the United States Postal Service carrying mail in Alva for 17 years. For three decades Max served the Alva Public Schools as an industrial arts instructor. Max introduced countless Alva school children to their first power tools always emphasizing safety and never letting a class end without a thorough tidying up of the workshop. As life changed so did his class, it eventually became known simply as Technology. Max was one of the first teachers in the state to embrace the transition and help write the original textbook for the course that covered a wide range of topics from construction to computers to photography. Eventually, Max retired from the schools but never stopped working. His home built originally in the 1880s has been renovated, expanded and remade by his own hands. His talent for building extended to finer woodworking as well. Max was a prolific carver. Every room in Max and LaDonna’s home has something carved by Max from the smallest figure to five feet tall classic cigar store figure that was once displayed at Alva’s Museum of the Cherokee Strip. Max’s carving career culminated in an art show at Graceful Arts Gallery in 2023 where the entire community enjoyed his work. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church. He was also a member of VFW and the American Legion Post 92 serving as Vice Commander. Besides his parents, Kenneth and Della, he was preceded in death by his sisters, Wanda Jean Eckert and Donna “Dorene” Joy; and infant sister, Evelyn June. Max is survived by his wife of 70 years, LaDonna of Alva; his daughters, Julie Benningfield Jungman and husband, Greg, of Alva, and Mary Benningfield Cline of Alva; four grandchildren, Emma Cline of Alva, Max Benningfield Cline of Alva, Jack Jungman of Norman, and Sophie Jungman of Alva; other relatives and friends. Memorial contributions may be made through the funeral home to the First United Methodist Church of Alva.

Kenneth Max Benningfield

March 6, 1934 - February 14, 2025