NORFOLK - Doris Sylvia Armstrong Benze, 91, most recently of Norfolk, died early Sunday, Oct. 13, 2002, after a brief illness. She was born in 1911 in Burning Well, McKean County, Pa., the youngest child of the late Mark and Georgianna Dupree Armstrong. For most of her early life, Doris lived in Warren, Pa. She married John Warren Benze in 1936, a love story that began one snowy night when John was stranded at the soda fountain where Doris worked. They were wed by John's father and uncle, both Lutheran ministers, in the church John's grandfather, also a Lutheran minister, had built in 1876. In the years that followed, Doris enjoyed working with the public in the office supply business and later in retail women's clothing sales. In 1968, after having raised their three children, Doris and John moved to Biloxi, Miss., when the opportunity arose for John to make a late life career relocation. John died shortly thereafter, and Doris created a full life for herself, continuing to work in the office supply business and pursing her love of music. Her musical journey had begun as a teenager, studying the violin and playing for churches, often playing two different services at separate churches on Sundays. She was a longtime member of the Warren Civic Orchestra and, after moving to Mississippi, she played with the Gulf Coast Symphony, the Pascagoula Orchestra, and the Mobile Opera Company. Teaching the violin to young students was especially gratifying to her. In 1994, Doris came to live in Norfolk, to be close to family. She was a member of the First Lutheran Church and enjoyed involvement with the Older Adult Program at Jewish Family Service, made particularly special by the company of her friend, Dean. She maintained her youthful spirit and continued to make friends wherever she went. In addition to her husband, Doris was predeceased by her brother, Clayton Armstrong, and two sisters, Addie McWilliams and Aileen Schrecongost, all formerly of Pennsylvania. She is survived by her children, Robert J. Benze and his wife, Joan, of Silverdale, Wash., Jay W. Benze and his wife Mary of Albuquerque, N.M. and Jean B. Schlichter and her husband, Jeff, a devoted son-in-law, of Norfolk. Other survivors include her loving grandchildren, John Benze, James Benze, Jeanne Tunell, Pattie Salls, Mike Benze, Emily Schlichter and Erika Schlichter. She was also ''Grandma'' to Suzanne Delacey, Linda Delacey, Craig Delacey, and Carrie Delacey, in addition to being the proud great-grandmother of Ashley and Dustin Salls, Kristin Benze, Lorenzo Petroncelli and Nicole Lord. She will be remembered by her brother-in-law, James G. Benze of Parma, Ohio, many nieces and nephews and her Biloxi friends. She will be missed by her longtime ''adopted family'' friends who relocated to the U.S. from India, Usha, and Dinesh, and from Kuwait, Aban and Jamshed. They still refer to her as "mother" from the days she and John opened their home to acquaintances he made during business trips to India. She remains in the memories of friends around the country who she met during a trip around the world with her late sister-in-law, Estelle Benze in 1975. Doris' family is grateful for the many kindnesses extended by members of First Lutheran Church of Norfolk and Jewish Family Service of Tidewater. Memorial donations may be made to either. Thanks go also to the impeccable medical care provided by Dr. Julie Damman through the final years of Doris' life. A funeral service will be held on Thursday at 11 a.m. at First Lutheran Church, Norfolk. A memorial service will take place on Friday at 1 p.m. at First Lutheran Church in Warren, Pa., followed by interment at Warren County Memorial Park at 2 p.m. Altmeyer Funeral Home, Virginia Beach, is handling arrangements. Virginian-Pilot, The (Norfolk, VA) - Tuesday, October 15, 2002