Benjamin B. Dow

 

Dr. Benjamin B. Dow, 85, of South Burlington, VT, passed away peacefully on June 08th, 2023. Born on April 26, 1938, in Boston, MA, he was the son of the late Benjamin F. Dow and Virginia B. (Robinson) Dow.

Dr. Ben attended primary and high school in Dedham, MA. He enjoyed music from a young age and was a member of the H.S. orchestra and band. He played several instruments, including his favorite, the tenor sax. He also formed and played in his own band at local events. Summers were spent in Duxbury, MA. where he enjoyed many hours on the ocean, boating, fishing, and digging clams. He spent time at the family farm in Windham, NH where he began his lifelong love for animals.

Ben proudly served his country as a member of the U.S. Navy Reserve from 1955 until 1963.

He began as a naval aviation cadet while still in high school and was based at the South Weymouth NAS. His love for aviation began with becoming a navigator in the Grumman S2F airplane. His last duty station was at Olathe NAS, KS.

He graduated from Kansas State University with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1967. He worked as a veterinarian for many years, dedicating his life to the care of all types of animals. He was especially fond of surgery. He founded Duxbury Animal Hospital, Duxbury, MA in 1968, Southwest Animal Clinic in Lenexa, KS in 1977 and Hickory Ridge Animal Clinic in Westminster West, VT in 1978. He also worked as an animal nutritionist for Hills Prescription Pet Food 1977-1989. He worked as a veterinarian until 2015. The care of animals always came first, and Dr. Ben frequently donated his services when needed.

While at Kansas State, he met Carol A. Walker, the love of his life. They were married in 1960 and were a team until Carol passed away in 2007. They had three sons, Ben, Brad, and Andy.

Dr. Ben was well known for his charming personality. Being the entertainer was the way to be noticed in his family with a brash, larger-than-life older brother, Curtis, and a baby sister, Lin.  He started entertaining from a young age with jokes and stories. Wherever Dr. Ben is - he is sure to be telling jokes that leave many baffled, but of lighter spirit, when they hear him laugh at his own humor.

Dr. Ben enjoyed flying as an instrument rated private pilot. He shared this passion with his son, Ben. They both enjoyed planning and flying many cross-country trips together. He also loved to hunt and fish. He had an endless supply of stories related to his adventures.

He was a 32nd Degree Freemason and Shriner. He was active in DeMolay during high school and was raised as a Master Mason in 1961. Masonry is a tradition in the Dow family carried on by his sons. Ben was a past member of Constellation Lodge F. & A. M., Scottish Rite Valley of Burlington, and Aleppo and Melha Shrine Temples. He was a member of the Melha Shrine Tryke Unit and loved to perform wheelies during parades.  He was most recently a member of Seneca Lodge No. 40 F. & A. M. in Milton, VT, Scottish Rite Valley of Burlington, VT, and of Cairo Shrine Temple, of Rutland, VT.  He enjoyed the values and brotherhood of Masonry.

Dr. Ben is survived by his sister, Linda (Dow) Whitehead of Falmouth, MA; his sons, Benjamin L. Dow of Georgia, VT, Bradford K. Dow of Halifax, VT, and Andrew A. Dow of Enfield, CT; his grandchildren, Caitlin Dow Rollet of Fairfax, VT, Jordanne E. Dow of Pensacola, FL, Andrew L. Dow of Williston, VT, Emily E. Dow of Marlboro, VT, Morgan L. Dow of Chester, VT, Melanie C. Dow of Halifax, VT, Robert B. Dow and Erin L. Dow of Enfield, CT; his great-grandchildren, Zoey R. Servo and Cole B. Servo of Pensacola, FL, and Royce A. Hannon, of Marlboro, VT,  and Jules A. Rollet of Fairfax, VT.

Ben was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Curtis G. Dow, and his wife Carol A. Dow.

A service will be held at the Congregational Church in Westminster West, VT on July 8th, 2023, at 11:00 AM, with interment to follow, at the Westminster West Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Doctor Ben’s memory to the Shriners Hospitals for Children or to the Windham County Humane Society