Services for Valerie Bender set for May 20

A memorial service for Valerie Bender, former Fresno Bee vice president of custom publications and publisher of the Merced Sun-Star, will be 1 p.m. May 20 at Temple Beth Israel, 6622 N. Maroa Ave. in Fresno.

In her 20-year career at The Bee, Mrs. Bender rose from features editor to assistant managing editor, director of community publications to vice president of custom publications. In February 2014, she became publisher of the Merced paper. She retired last November.

Mrs. Bender died May 6 after a fight with breast cancer.

This story was originally published May 9, 2016 at 3:31 PM with the headline "Services for Valerie Bender set for May 20."