Benjamin Ivan Canales

Benjamin Ivan Canales

Salinas - Benjamin Ivan Canales passed away peacefully at the age of 95 on Friday, April 10, 2020, at his home on Highway 68 in Salinas, CA. He was born December 2, 1924 to Joaquin and Gertrude Canales in a home on Santa Monica Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA, and was the oldest of 9 children.

The family moved to the Salinas Valley in 1940. Ben attended Gonzales High and later graduated from Salinas High School. He served in combat as a US Marine in the Pacific Area during WWII, including the Marianas Islands of Saipan and Tinian in the summer of 1944, the Philippine Liberation in the fall of 1944, and Iwo Jima in the Spring of 1945. He was Honorably Discharged on December 3, 1945 at the rank of Sergeant. Ben returned to the Salinas Valley and entered into the agricultural industry. He fathered two children, Curtis and Pamela Canales, and moved into his home on Highway 68 in 1954. In November of 1962 Ben married his wife of 57 years, Lynn Canales (nee Smart).

During Ben's long career in the Agricultural Industry he worked as General Manager for the C. W. Englund Company of California and Arizona, as Insurance Agent for Western Growers of the Salinas Valley, and at age 66 he retired as the Human Resources Et Insurance Agent for the Citrus a Avocado Association in the San Joaquin Valley and Arizona.

Ben is preceded in death by five younger siblings. He is survived by his wife Lynn, children Curtis and Pamela, step-daughter Kimberly Ramsey, 4 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren.

He will be interred at a later date at the California Central Coast Veterans Cemetery at Ford Ord.