A lifelong resident of Grand Rapids, Josephene Bender (1894-1996), was the daughter of Charles H. Bender and Sallie Knapp. Bender began her school career at Wealthy Street Public School. She remained there only a year, entering Miss Moffett's private school, located on Jefferson Ave. Bender graduated from Grand Rapids Central High School in 1912. She then attended Vassar College, graduating in 1916. Upon her return to Grand Rapids, Bender enrolled at McLauglin's Business College, where she learned shorthand, typing and bookkeeping. Miss Bender had a lifelong interest in the theater, in 1927 she was one of the founders of the Grand Rapids Civic Players, later to become the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre. In 1939 she became the Business Manager for the Civic Theatre, a position she held for the next ten years.

Bender was also an avid golfer. Her father was one of the founders of the Kent Country Club, and she began playing golf at the age of twelve. She won the city championship in 1928 and 1933. Bender played in many tournaments around the state, and was involved in forming the Western Michigan, State and other golf associations. More recently, Bender wrote the history of the Kent Country Club.

Bender was also one of the organizers of the Grand Rapids Junior League. She served as president in 1927-28. In addition to all these activities, she was a member of the Butterworth Hospital Diet Kitchen Guild, for many years.

For more biographical information on Josephene Bender and her family see the Michigan Room's Portrait and Biographical file. For further information on her father, Charles, Henry Bender, see also the Grand Rapids Public Library's manuscript collection #24.