Benjamin Jesse Skinner

SKINNER, Benjamin Jesse, 89, of West Point, Va., died on Sunday, March 8, 2009. He was born in Pitt County, N.C., to the late Benjamin and Leila Skinner. Ben was "a North Carolinian by birth and a Virginian by choice" who served in the Army Air Corps in both North Africa and Italy during World War II. During that time, he earned the rank of Staff Sergeant and was decorated with the EAMET Campaign Medal with six Bronze Service Stars and a Bronze Star Medal. He was the manager at Roses Department Store for 22 years before coming to West Point in 1962 and opening Point Variety. Ben was a strong believer in giving back to his community, always striving to help others in need. For 20 years, Ben served in the local government, including being chairman of the King William Board of Supervisors, President of the Virginia Association of Counties, member and chairman of the West Point Industrial Development Authority, member of the West Point Planning Commission and the Board of Zoning Appeals. Ben was active in numerous local organizations including the Kiwanis, where he served as a past president and received the Hixen award, the Pamunkey Regional Library Board, the VFW and the local Boy Scout Troop. He was a member of the West Point United Methodist Church where he served on several committees and was a Sunday school teacher. Ben was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Bet Skinner. He is survived by his daughter and her husband, Lee and David Bristow of Richmond; a son and his wife, David and Carmen Skinner of West Point; four grandsons, Matt and Justin Bristow, Evan and Neal Skinner; a nephew and his wife, Henry and Carol Skinner of Wilson, N.C. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, 11 a.m. at Vincent Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 417 11th Street, West Point, Va. Memorials may be made to West Point Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department, Box X, West Point, Va. 23181 or West Point United Methodist Church Building Fund, Box 610, West Point, Va. 23181. Condolences may be registered at www.vincentfh.com.
This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.