Ben H. Graves

It is with great sorrow, but the world lost a great man today – Ben H. Graves. Ben was born and raised in Hamblen County, TN. He went to the University of Tennessee and East Tennessee State University to achieve his degrees in teaching and marketing. 

Ben moved to Oak Ridge and became a teacher at Oak Ridge High School in 1966 and taught there until he retired 1986. He was also an avid golfer and was the golf coach at Oak Ridge for many years. He taught Distributive Education at Oak Ridge and always liked the students and teaching them about business. He traveled with friends to Palm Beach, Canada, Lake Tahoe, just to name a few. He played in the Senior Golf Tour and played at Pebble Beach. In 1973, Ben purchased his first used mobile home and realized it was a business that he excelled in. He built a mobile home park in Whitesburg. He opened Ben’s Home Centers in 1982 on Oliver Springs Highway and was a top Dealer for Clayton Homes. He had 5 retail locations in Knoxville, Newport, Jefferson City and Clinton, as well as a subdivision he built in 1998 now known as WoodCutter’s Crossing. He sold lots and homes together in that subdivision and helped many with their first home purchase. He provided financing for many of his customers over the years. His park in the Batley Community is still going strong and has 34 tenants active.

Ben was a member of the Elks in Oak Ridge, belonged to the Oak Ridge Country Club and often made contributions to the Boy’s Club of Oak Ridge and the Ronald McDonald Wish Foundation as well as the Marlow Volunteer Fire Department. 

Ben is survived by his long-time companion, love and best friend of 26 years, Linda K. Stewart, Melissa Bacon who was his employee and friend for 43 years, Rose Wallis, also an employee and friend for over 38 years, and his special best friends Hugh Nichols and Ken Brown and their wives, and several nieces and nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his parents Paul and Blanche, his sisters Sue and Vanna and good friends Rick Hughes, Clark Meredith and Larry Garner. 

He will be forever missed but his business and memory will continue. Everyone who knew him will feel the impact of his presence gone. Services will be held at Mott-McKamey Funeral Home in Oak Ridge on Friday, February 21st. 2025 from 4:00 – 6:00 pm with a short service after.

Mott- McKamey Funeral Home and Cremations is assisting the Graves family.