Benjamin M. Wilson

Benjamin M. "Ben" Wilson, 20, of East Stroudsburg, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 3, surrounded by his family and friends at the Lehigh Valley Hospital Hospice, Allentown, after a courageous battle.

Born April 22, 1988, in Buffalo, N.Y., he was the son of Mary E. (Florence) Jahada and stepson of George Jahada Jr., of East Stroudsburg, and Eric F. Wilson, of Buffalo, N.Y. He was a resident of Monroe County since 2002, prior to that he lived in Bethlehem, from 1994, moving from Amherst, N.Y.

Ben was a kind and loving young man who was a catalyst that brought many people together from different walks of life, including his mother and stepfather George.

His two milestones that he was proud of in his life were his baptism on Nov. 2, 2002, becoming one of Jehovah's Witnesses he dedicated his life to Jehovah, he was a member of the Stroudsburg Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses; and his graduation from Stroudsburg High School with the Class of 2008, where he was enrolled in the Culinary Arts Program at the Monroe Career and Technical Institute.

In addition to his mother, stepfather and father, Ben is survived by his brothers, Devin E. Wilson and his wife, Melissa, of Newfane, N.Y., Jason A. Wilson of Newfane, N.Y., and Jake E. Jahada of Greentown; his maternal grandmother, Obadiah Florence of Bethlehem; and his maternal step-grandmother, Audrey Jahada of Bethlehem; his aunts, Doris Aikens and her husband, James, of Chardon, Ohio, Belinda Parker of Buffalo, N.Y., Virginia "Ginny" Flenoy of Playa Del Ray, Calif., Gail Florence of Santa Monica, Calif., Rosetta "Rosie" Wilson of Buffalo, N.Y., and Sheila Bogie of Palmer; his uncles Otis Florence and his wife, Debbie, of Tampa, Fla., Vincent Florence of Fort Washington, M.D., Michael Florence and his wife, Virginia, of Tampa, Fla., and Wayne S. Jahada of Georgia; and many cousins.

Ben was predeceased by his aunt, Glenda A. Curry.

A memorial service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 5, at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, Route 209, East Stroudsburg. The service will be given by Derek A. Oliver, Brother in the Stroudsburg Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses. There will be a visitation from 6:30 p.m. until the time of the service at the Kingdom Hall.

Ben's family will like to express a special thank you to all of the doctors, nurses, and pharmacists who cared for him during his illness, they all played a key role that Ben got the best care.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Ben's name to a local Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses of ones choice, or to the American Cancer Society, RR 2 Box 2138, Stroudsburg, PA 18360.