Benjamin M. Prince

1935 - 2015

Benjamin M. Prince

Benjamin M. Prince, 79, of Mercer Island, passed away peacefully on May 5, 2015, after a 21/2 year battle with brain cancer. Born August 20, 1935, in Oroville, Wash., to Ben and Hazel Prince, he graduated from Oroville High School and went on to study math and physics at the UW, earning a BS and MS and completing coursework toward a Ph.D. After a six-week courtship, he and Laura Bindrup eloped, embarking on a marriage spanning 55 years, with three children and many adventures.

Ben enjoyed a long career at Boeing, from his early days in the AWACS program to his path as an executive in Boeing Computer Services and Boeing Support Services, living in Seattle; Richland, Wash.; and Washington, DC. Throughout his life, Ben also worked behind the scenes on the family business, Prince's in Oroville. Despite his busy career, Ben always put his family first. He was a devoted husband and father, and one of his greatest joys was being a grandfather. Ben loved to fly his Cessna 182, play jazz piano, dance the swing, restore and drive British cars, and tend to his hobby farm and animals.

He is survived and forever cherished by his wife, Laura; son, Ben Prince Jr.; daughters, Sharon Wells (Bill) and Barbara Prince; grandchildren, Madeline and Matt Wells; brother, Jim Prince (Marilyn); and dogs Lucy and Ollie.

The funeral will be held Saturday, May 16, at 2:00 p.m. at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Mercer Island. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Emmanuel Episcopal Church or Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation,

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