Ben Collier

1925 - 2021

Ben Collier
November 25, 1925 - December 3, 2020
Spring, Texas - Stephen Benjamin (Ben) Collier, born on November 25, 1925 in Raleigh Township, North Carolina, to the late Flora Marian Lloyd and the late Jesse James Collier, passed away at age 95 on December 3, 2020, in Spring, Texas. He joined the U. S. Army Air Corps as a Pvt Aviation Cadet in 1943 and trained as a B-24 flight engineer at Keesler Field. His WWII duty was served in Florida at Buckingham, Naples and Maxwell Air Fields doing coastal submarine patrols. He returned to Raleigh and completed his High School diploma after discharge. He attended college for aeronautical engineering. Ben maintained ties to the military during this time in the Army Reserves. He reenlisted in 1951 and remained in the Army until 1969, when he resigned with the rank of Chief Warrant Officer II. While in Raleigh, he met and married Jo Nelle Atkins on March 29, 1952, at Hayes Barton Methodist Church. The family travelled overseas for many years with the Army; and Ben enjoyed seeing new places and meeting new people. After the Army, Ben's career led him to teach mathematics and science to young felons at Polk Youth Center in Raleigh, where he transitioned to an outreach program to help place those being released into occupations in the community. After retirement from N. C. State, he worked at his friend, Joel Johnson's company, installing security systems. Ben and Jo moved to Texas in 1994 to join their daughter and grandchildren, and Ben volunteered at the Nassau Bay Police Department, where he assisted with the city's FEMA program. Ben was preceded in death by his wife, Jo, his sister, Alice Mae Foster, and his brother, John William Collier. He is survived by his daughter Elizabeth Ann Collier and spouse Corbett Bruce Ray of Houston; grandchildren Jennifer Rachel Boone and spouse Kenneth Trochesset, and Stephen Alexander Boone and spouse, Ashton Stinnette; and by a greatly anticipated great grandchild, Jackson Oliver Boone. He also leaves behind a host of nieces and nephews and friends. A memorial service is not planned at this time due to the pandemic. Donations in Ben's name to C. C. Young Benevolence Fund, 4847 West Lawther Drive, Suite 100, Dallas, Texas 75214, are welcome and appreciated.