Kalman Benko

A memorial service for Kalman Benko, 82, will be at 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 6, 2023, at Mountain Valley Funeral Home in Joshua.

Mr. Benko died Feb. 2, 2023 at his home in Joshua.

Kalman Benko was born Jan. 17, 1941, in Vaspor, Hungary, finished his schooling in that European country and served in its military before moving to California in 1971.

He married Elizabeth Szedeli on Jan. 17, 1972, in San Bernadino, Calif. She had come to this country in 1956 during the revolution in Hungary to live with an aunt and uncle. Her uncle had worked for Kalman’s father in the vineyard and that’s how he became acquainted with his future wife.

He was a featherweight boxer in Hungary during his military days and also loved soccer, which he played for 32 years. He was a fan of the FC Dallas pro soccer team as well as the Dallas Cowboys.

He enjoyed gardening, fishing in area lakes, horse racing and watching movies about animals.

The Benkos moved to Texas in 1975 and Kalman worked as a machinist making precision components for Central Industrial Supply in Grand Prairie for 34 years.

He was a member of Cistercian Catholic Church in Irving.

He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth “Buzz” Benko; daughters Julie Rose Adames and husband Gabriel of Grand Prairie; daughter Linda Ann Smith and husband Duane of Joshua; son Martin Steve Benko and wife Sandra of Arlington; and five grandchildren – Josua Brown and Julian Z. Adames of Grand Prairie and Matthew Steven Benko, Jacob Robinson and Zachary Robinson of Arlington.

His parents and a brother, Steve Benko, are deceased.