Shirley A. Benson (nee Cuthbertson), 83 of Warminster, Pennsylvania, passed away on October 15, 2025. Shirley was born on December 23, 1941, in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. After graduating from Germantown High School, Shirley met the love of her life Wilton (Bill) Benson, a Philadelphia Police Lieutenant Detective who originated from an Arkansas farm. They were married for almost sixty years, living in Philadelphia and then Warminster, when Bill passed away in 2022. If you were to ask them it was love at first sight and there wasn’t a day that went by since Bill passed that she did not miss him.

Shirley and Bill were blessed to have three children, eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren. She is survived by her son Wilton Benson Jr. and his children Wilton III and his wife Christina, Amber and her husband Matthew Chubb, Nicholas and Tyler; her daughter Deborah and husband George Griffin and their children Allyson and her husband Rodney Whisler, George Jr. and his wife Emily; her son Stephen and his wife Grace and their children Kaitlyn and her spouse Casey Gallagher and Luke; and her brother Alton Cuthbertson Jr. of Tennessee. Shirley was predeceased by both of her parents, Dorothy and Alton Cuthbertson of Philadelphia, her in laws Otis and Ora Benson of Arkansas, daughter in law Elaine Benson of Philadelphia and West Chester, married to Wilton Jr. and a sister Lillian Long (nee Cuthbertson) of Philadelphia.

Although she loved her children and their spouses dearly, it was her grandchildren and great grandchildren that filled her heart the most. Her great grandchildren included Nicholas (son of Wilton III and Christina), Daphne and Matthew (children of Amber and Matt) and latest addition Marie Joy (daughter to George Jr. and Emily), not to mention all her grand puppies, kittens and other assorted pets. She was always babysitting, attending sporting events and making time for the life events of each of them and making each one feel as though they were each her “favorites” when we know she loved them all the same.

Post high school Shirley was employed as a secretary for an insurance company. After having Wilton Jr., Shirley was a homemaker until 1983, when she returned to the workforce and was employed as a secretary at Heyer Kemner Real Estate for 25+ years.

Shirley’s passion was cooking, baking and family. She grew up working in her parents’ bakery in Germantown and that joy never left her. There was never a party where Shirley did not prepare some kind of cookies or other sweet treats as well as making delicious food. During holiday time, she was known for always sending huge cookie trays to family, friends and neighbors. Shirley was an avid Phillies fan, watching her favorite current player, Alec Bohm, remembering the times that Steve Carlton would get to pitch complete games on the regular and all of Mike Schmidt’s homeruns.

Visitation will be held at Louis Swift Plunkett Funeral Home at 529 N York Road in Hatboro on October 23,2025 at 9:30 – 11:00 AM with a memorial service immediately following at the same location. Interment services will be October 27, 2025, at 10:30 AM at Washington Crossing National Cemetery, 830 Highland Road in Newtown, Pennsylvania. If planning to attend the interment, please arrive for the services by 10:15 AM.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to PAF, Patient Advocate Foundation, an organization both Shirley and Bill felt strongly about. Checks may be sent to Patient Advocate Foundation, Attn: Finance, 421 Butler Farm Road, Hampton, VA 23666 or online at https://patientadvocate.org/get-involved/donate.