Bennie Harold "Ben" Fry

BENNIE HAROLD FRY "Ben" Apr 27, 1948 - May 1, 2005

Ben Fry was born on April 27, 1948, in Tulare, CA to Harold and Mary Jo "Jodi". He passed away on Sunday, May 1, 2005, in Fresno, CA. Ben lived in Pixley until age three when he and his mother and two sisters moved to Selma. Ben attended grammar school in Selma until the age of nine when he returned to Pixley to live with his father. Ben moved back to Selma for the eighth grade and completed his high school education there. He was a Selma High graduate class of 1966, and studied business administration at Fresno City College. Ben worked at Sperry New Holland before joining management of Blocklite in 1975. While balancing his duties at Blocklite in 1980, Ben was elected to serve on the Selma City Council. Two years later, at the age of 34, Ben was elected to the office of Mayor of Selma, becoming the youngest person to be elected to that post. Ben was also active in the Selma Rotary Club for many years. Ben's career at Blocklite spanned 30 years, during the course of which he served as the company's General Manager until acquiring the company in 1996. He served as chairman of the National Concrete Masonry Assoc. in 1999. Ben also served multiple terms as President of the Concrete Masonry Assoc. of California and Nevada. Although Ben was dedicated to and well respected for his work in the concrete masonry industry, he had a great passion for flying. Ben took to the skies at the age of 15. Though his life's pursuits grounded him for a numbers of years, his love of flying brought him back into the cockpit later in life. From there, Ben quickly logged over 1200 hours. He earned his instrument and commercial pilot ratings, allowing him to transition into work as a part time charter pilot. When he wasn't flying, you could find him out on the road on his Harley. Ben is survived by his fiancee Betty; sons, Brian and his wife Carla and Craig and his wife Jonna; mother, Jodi Grindle; father Harold and stepmother Christine; sisters, Shirley Martin and Melanie Sarkisian; grandchildren, Tyler, Hayley, Rachell and Ariana; and many nieces and nephews. A Funeral Service will be held at First Baptist Church in Selma on Thursday, May 5, 2005, at 1:00 p.m., with a luncheon to follow. Remembrances may be made to the American Cancer Society or St. Agnes Medical Center, 1303 E. Herndon, Fresno, CA. age,,100,p PAGE FUNERAL CHAPELSelma (559)896-1240