Claysburg's Ray Benton Seeking Coroner's Office As Hand-Picked Successor to Retiring Ross

When Blair County Coroner Patty Ross called Ray Benton last summer and asked him to become her Chief Deputy Coroner, she did it with an eye toward the future. Ross, after a quarter-century as coroner, is retiring at the end of her current term and has tapped Benton as her successor.

"I've known Patty for a long time," Benton said. "In July she called me and told me she was retiring and wanted me to come in as Chief Deputy and get me ready to take over the office."

Benton, 52, of Claysburg, said he is prepared to step into the role of coroner due to a career path that has focused on public serv...