Beverly Benson

Passed away on Saturday March 27, 2021.

Beverly (Crins) Benson was born on August 29, 1939 in Providence to Howard and Pearl (Woodmansee) Crins.  She married Richard Benson in 1961, and had two daughters, Wendy Leigh and Judie Lynn. She graduated from Cranston High where she was a cheerleader and member of the Rhode Island and National Honor Society.  She was also a member of the Dean's Council. She graduated with honors from the University of Rhode Island in 1961 with a major in English and secondary education. Richard worked at Guaranty Bank in Worcester, Massachusetts. Both of their daughters, Wendy and Judie were born in Worcester.  They moved to Cranston in 1964 where her husband took a position at Citizens Bank.  In Cranston, she was a member of the Junior Woman's Club where she chaired a successful auction.  She moved to Cumberland in 1971 where she joined the League of Woman's Voters.  In Cumberland, she was instrumental in getting Physical Education as part of the curriculum in the Cumberland elementary schools.  Prior to 1971, the classroom teachers did jumping jacks with the students.  Beverly substituted in the Cranston and Lincoln High Schools while her daughters were young.  She became interested in why there was a diversity of reading levels in high schools.  In Cranston, students were placed according to ability, but in Lincoln, students had choices. As a result of this diversity of reading levels in the high schools, she took required graduate reading courses ant Rhode Island College.  Beverly taught remedial reading at Cumberland High School from 1975 to 1982 when she was laid off along with over 40 teachers in 1982.  The students she taught were reading three or more years below grade levels, small classes with six to nine students.  She then went to North Providence where she taught St. Mary's kids. When the Federal Grant ended, she retired. Beverly enjoyed boating on Narragansett Bay with her young children and later on Lake Sunapee with her grandchildren. She also enjoyed cruising with family and friends in the Caribbean, Northern Europe and the Mediterranean.  Besides her husband Dick, she is survived by her daughters Wendy Oxiner, Judie Benson, five grandchildren; Cameron and Brandon Oxiner, Andrew, Taylor, Elise Berlinsky, and brother Barry Crins.  

Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 5:00-7:00pm in The Butterfield Chapel 500 Pontiac Avenue Cranston.

The funeral service will be held on Thursday at 10:00am in the Woodridge Congregational Church 30 Jackson Road Cranston.

Burial will be private.

Flowers are welcome, or if you desire, charity options are listed below.