Benjamin Harrison Weddle

Benjamin Harrison Weddle peacefully passed at his home, Folly Farm, on Friday, April 14, 2023, of old age. He was 93 years old.

He was preceded in death by his wife and high school sweetheart, Carol Gustafson Weddle, whom he was married to for 66 years; daughter, Caryl Leigh Weddle; parents, Benjamin H. and Mary Kirk Weddle and older brother, Earl Kirk Weddle.

Ben is survived by his children, Jeff, Lisa, Sam and Cynthia, six grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

Ben grew up in Lynn, Massachusetts, and graduated from Lynn English H.S. in 1946. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps immediately after graduating and is a WWII veteran. After leaving the Marines he entered Virginia Polytechnic Institute and graduated in 1952. He and his wife Carol moved to Sperryville and later, Warren County, Virginia, where Ben worked as a Virginia Extension County agent and radio presenter of a popular weekday agricultural program on WFTR at 6:05 in the morning.

He continued to work for the Virginia Cooperative Extension in various capacities out of Luray, Virginia. During this time, he completed his master's and doctoral degrees from North Carolina State University. In 1979 he moved to New Hampshire with Carol and Cynthia where he served as the Assistant Dean and then acting Dean of the New Hampshire Cooperative Extension Service. In 1984 Ben retired and went to Swaziland to work with U.S.A.I.D, to develop improved farming practices. In 1989, Ben went on to work in Zimbabwe in a similar capacity with the World Health Organization. Carol was by his side on both endeavors.

Returning to Virginia, Ben continued his life of public service by serving on the Warren County Board of Supervisors. He was regularly active in community activities and was a member of the Cedarville Ruritan Club.

Ben was very involved in his religious life. He was a member of the Rockland Community Church for many years. In his later years he was a member of the Front Royal Presbyterian Church where he served as an elder.

Ben and Carol traveled extensively, visiting friends and family around the world. After Carol passed away, Ben traveled with his children and grandchildren to Northern Ireland to visit family. In the last year of his life he traveled to Antarctica, Colorado, Topsail Island (for a yearly family vacation), and Australia, (his 7th continent). Ben enjoyed spending time on the family farm. Most of all Ben loved spending time with his beloved family.

Doctor Ben Weddle was a lifelong learner, who lived a full and vibrant life and will be missed by all whose lives he touched.

A celebration of Ben's life will be held at the Front Royal Presbyterian Church on Saturday, April 29 at 2:30 PM with a visitation beginning at 1:30PM.

Flowers are welcome or memorial contributions may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation at jdrf.org or St. Luke Community Clinic at saintlukeclinic.org.

Please visit obituaries and tribute wall at ompsfuneralhome.com.