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Gilford-----Ben Willis, 69, of Henderson Road went home to be with his Lord on September 2, 2002. He died peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by his family, at the VA Hospital in Manchester, after a long battle with cancer.
Ben, originally from Perry, Florida, met Rena Blodgett of N. Stratford, NH in Germany while both were serving in the military. Their courtship spanned the continents and they were married on April 27, 1957, in N. Stratford, NH. They have spent their entire married life serving the Evangelical Baptist Church in Laconia, in various capacities such as the music ministry, Sunday School and youth ministries, Golden View Nursing Home ministry, Child Evangelism Fellowship, and Camp Good News. Mr. Willis worked for Vernitron for 21 years and retired in 1995.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 45 years, Rena, of Gilford; three daughters, Karen Ross of Sanbornton, Kim Gardner of Walpole, Kris Green of Waverly, West Virginia; one son, Scott Willis, of Bartlett; eleven grandchildren, who all loved him dearly, and number twelve on the way!; a step sister, Rossie Shinko of Jacksonville, Florida; and many nephews and nieces.
There will be no calling hours.
There will be a private committal service for family and close friends at the N. H. State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen on Friday, September 6, 2002 at 1:00 PM.
A memorial celebration service, in honor of his life, will be held on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2002 at 2:00 PM at the Evanglical Baptist Church, Veterans Square in Laconia. All who knew him and loved him and his family are welcome to attend.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Evangelical Baptist Church and they will be distributed among the various ministries in which the couple has served. The donation checks may be made out to the Evangelical Baptist Church and mailed to the Church at 12 Veterans Square, Laconia, NH 03246. For more information, contact the Church at (603) 524-2277.
Wilkinson-Beane Funeral Home, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, NH is in charge of the arrangements.
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