Background
Percy J. Benbough was born in Watford, England on April 14, 1884, to Isaac and Sarah Ann Benbough. His family moved to San
Diego, CA in 1889. In 1905 he married Grace Legler, a native of Valley Falls, Kansas. She moved to San Diego with him, where
they opened Benbough Mortuary. Benbough Funeral Parlors eventually grew to include mortuaries throughout Southern California
and into Arizona. Percy soon transitioned into civil service, and served as a San Diego City Councilman and Fire Chief in
1913, as Chief of Police in 1931, and as Mayor from 1935 till his death on November 4, 1942. Grace remained active in the
mortuary business and San Diego club life till her death on October 12, 1961.