Willard Tilden Bender

Hollywood Lodge No. 355, California Piedmont Lodge No. 447, Atlanta, Georgia

Willard was born on 23 August, 1889, in Verona, Minnesota.  Son of Edward Jacob Bender and Emma Jane Tilden.  He also resided in Santa Barbara and San Diego before ending up in Los Angeles.  He attended Santa Barbara High School and Occidental College.

He practiced law for four and a half years before enlisting in the California Coast Artillery on 19 July, 1917.  On his draft registration card, he lists his occupation as “Attorney Stock Raiser” and was unmarried.

He was sent to the Officers Training Camp at Camp Kearny, California.

On 9 March, 1918, he petitioned to take the degrees of Masonry at Hollywood Lodge No. 355. 

Before he could be initiated into Hollywood Lodge, he was ordered to ship out to France.  It was arranged for Piedmont Lodge No. 447 in Atlanta to give him his degrees, which he took on 8-10 July, 1918, one degree on each night.

2nd Lieutenant Bender was assigned to the 30th Company, 3rd Infantry Replacement Regiment, 77th Division, in July 1918 and shipped out to France aboard the U.S.S. Orca on 22 July, 1918.  The 77th Division played an important role in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive and is famous for “The Lost Battalion”.

Read more about the 77th Division here.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_Battalion_(World_War_I)

We do not know when he returned to the U.S.

He married Ora E. Thalman in the early 1920’s.  They remained married until his passing.

On 26 October, 1927, he and Ora departed La Harve, France, aboard the U.S.S. De Grasse, arriving at the port of New York on 4 November, 1927.

Brother Bender remained in Los Angeles.  He relocated to Glendale, California, where he lived until his passing.

On 25 April, 1942, at the age of 51, he registered for the draft.  He lists himself as a self-employed attorney.

Willard entered into rest on 2 February, 1970, in Riverside, California.

Brother Bender now rests in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California; Acacia, Map 1, Lot 1796, Space 3.

Soft and safe, my Brother, be thy resting place. Bright and glorious be thy rising from it.”

Lest we forget…