Joel Austin Benton

Joel Austin Benton was born June 24, 1954 in Oklahoma City. He grew up in Eagletown, Oklahoma on the family farm along the banks of Mountain Fork River. Joel received his high school diploma from Eagletown High School, then continued his education at Oklahoma State University Institute
of Technology in Okmulgee. After attending college in Okmulgee, he moved to Glorieta, New Mexico where he attended Santa Fe College. While in New Mexico, he worked on staff at Glorieta Baptist Conference Center for about 6 years before moving to East Texas. After moving to Texas, Joel worked several years as a long-distance truck driver, first with Blackburn Syrup Company, then later for Lone Star Steel Company. During this time he studied at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, became an ordained minister, and was licensed as an auctioneer with the state of Texas. He served for a time as pastor at Lancing Switch Mission in Longview, served as chaplain for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, and chaplain for the Longview Texas Chapter of the Christian Motorcyclists Association where he
was a member since 1997. Joel was proud to have been able to attend the first CMA Changing of the Colors Rally at Iron Mountain near Mena Arkansas in 1999. He continued to attend the rally every fall for many years. Anyone who knew Joel knew that he had quite a passion for motorcycles, and also cars. He survived and recovered from a serious near fatal motorcycle accident and is a bone cancer survivor since the early 1990s. Joel passed from this life on the afternoon of September 1, 2025 while working at his home in Longview. He was preceded in death by his father CC Benton and his mother Verla Jo Totty Benton. He is survived by his sister Deborah Joy Benton Havens, brothers Billy Mark Benton and Byron Paul Benton, one niece, five nephews, and a host of friends and church family.

A memorial Service will be held at the Woodland Hills at Mason Creek Baptist Church on Sept 12th at 1:00 pm with Bro. Nathan Mathias officiating. In lieu of flowers the family asks if you would consider making a contribution to the Christian Motorcyclists
Association, PO Box 9 Hatfield, AR 71945

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