Benjamin H. Eldred

Ben Eldred, 77, of Williamsport, Pa., died on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, at Valley View Rehab & Nursing Center in Montoursville, Pa., following a brief illness.
Born Benjamin Harry Eldred on February 15, 1947, in Corning, N.Y., he was the son of the late Winthrop and Fannie (Smith) Eldred.
A native of Monterey, N.Y., he graduated from Bradford Central School, Bradford, N.Y., and was active in sports, Boy Scouts and public speaking.
Eldred joined the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War, serving in the combat engineers at Tan Son Nhut Air Base during the Tet offensive in Saigon in January 1968.
Following discharge, he attended and graduated from the Pennsylvania College of Technology, where he joined the faculty in 1973. Eldred settled with his family in the Montoursville area where he raised his children in a loving home that he built with his former wife, Susan. Ben played a key role in the college's association with Caterpillar, which serves as an industry sponsor of a heavy construction equipment technology associate degree major. In 2000, he was presented with the Master Teacher Award, the highest level of faculty recognition conferred by the college. He retired in 2005.
Eldred was well-known in the area for the businesses he co-founded: Field-Tec Services in Muncy, Pa., founded in 1981 and sold in 2018; and the former Williamsport Honda. He was also a long-time member of the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce.
On July 1, 2015, he married Mary DiFuccia of Williamsport, Pa., in Manhattan, N.Y.
He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, heavy equipment operation; traveling; farming; building a race track for his grandson, Drew; tractor pulls; open wheel racing with his son, Andy; mentoring former students; spending time with family and dear friends; and reading Tom Clancy books. He always had a positive attitude and helped guide many people.
Eldred is survived by his wife, Mary DiFuccia of Williamsport, PA; the mother of his children, Susan (Hyla) Eldred of Williamsport, Pa.; two children, Andrew Eldred (Jenn) of Trout Run, Pa., and Kirsten Sizemore (Stephen) of Lexington, Ky.; three bonus children, Rebecca Andersen (John) of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., SPC Jacob Reeder on deployment with the U.S. Army and Melissa Reeder of Williamsport, Pa.; five grandchildren, Drew and Cleo Eldred of Trout Run, Pa. and Lillian, Adalynn and Stephen Sizemore Jr. of Lexington, Ky., and one bonus grandson due January 2025 (Baby Andersen); one brother, Ken Eldred of Beaver Dams, N.Y.; one sister Sandie Wilson of Albany, N.Y.; and several brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Per his wishes, there will be no services. Arrangements are by Crouse Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Williamsport, Pa.
Memorial contributions can be made "In Memory of Ben Eldred" to support students in the heavy equipment program at Pennsylvania College of Technology, One College Avenue, Williamsport, PA 17701.
To share a memory or sign an online register book please visit www.crousefuneralhome.com.