BENJAMIN J. HARKINS

  
BENJAMIN JAMES HARKINS  
Of Washington, DC died peacefully February 7, 2015 at The Washington Home, Washington, DC following a stay at the VA Hospital for a fractured right thigh. He was born in New Jersey in 1930. Survived by Donald D. McArthur, husband and partner of 38 years; sons, Jeff Harkins/Leslie Buettner, Woodbridge, VA, Michael Harkins, Fairfax, VA, David Harkins/ Dean Harwager, N. Las Vegas, NV and Andrew Harkins/Evan Kavanagh, San Francisco, CA; and granddaughter, Elizabeth Harkins, Burke, VA. His 4 sons were from his marriage to Rosemary Curtis who died in 1994. He was preceded in death by parents, Amanda Matilda Taylor and Amos Edison Harkins, brother, Edison Harkins and sister, Ruth Zasowski. Ben earned a Bachelor's Degree in Business from Rider University, Lawrenceville, NJ before entering the U.S. Navy as a LTJG. Ben spent his military years as a Frogman (now called Seal). He was a Master Gardner in Lovettsville, VA and Jupiter, FL and volunteered at the Jupiter Hospital. He was a member of the garden club at the Franciscan Monastery, DC and volunteered at Food & Friends in DC. He worked at United Virginia Bank, Alexandria, VA, LeHane Outplacement, Leesburg, VA and as a Realtor with Long and Foster, Leesburg, VA. Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery with Full Military Honors at a date to be announced.