Benjamin Smith

Benjamin Smith Jr.
WILSONVILLE, Ore. - Benjamin R. Smith Jr., of Wilsonville, Oregon, was born in Independence Missouri on October 10, 1922, and passed away in Lake Oswego on October 26, 2010.
Ben was preceded in death by his parents, Ruth Culley and Benjamin R. Smith Sr., of Kansas City, Mo., his son, Brian Smith, and grandson ,Nicholas Smith of Simi Valley, Calif., and his two sisters.
Ben attended Mt. Washington Grade School and graduated from Northeast High School in Independence Missouri. Following service as a second lieutenant in the Army Air Corps during World War II, he attended the University of Missouri at Kansas City.
On November 2, 1946, he married Martha A. (Mardell) Finley of Tipton, Missouri. They would have celebrated their sixty fourth wedding anniversary this November.
In 1948, Ben began what would be a 33-year career with Farmers Insurance Group and served in offices in Kansas City, Mo., Pocatello, Idaho, Portland, Ore.,, Shawnee Mission, Kan., and Tigard, Ore. After retirement, Ben and Mardell lived in Camp Sherman, Ore., Yuma, Ariz., Bend, Ore., and Wilsonville, Ore.
Throughout his adult life, Ben was a dedicated member of the Masons. He served as a member of the Mt. Washington Masonic Lodge, the Bend, Oregon Masonic Lodge, and the Al Kader Shrine.
Ben is survived by his wife, Mardell; son, Timothy and wife, Mary, of Wilsonville, Ore; daughter-in-law, Tricia of Simi Valley, Calif., granddaughter, Amee, of Seattle, Wash., grandson, Timothy Peterson of Murphy, Texas; several great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
At the request of the deceased, there will be no funeral service. Memorial remembrances may be sent to: Signature Hospice at 25117 S.W. Parkway, Suite F, in Wilsonville, Ore. 97070.