Bennett "Ben" Willeford, Jr.

Bennett “Ben” Rufus Willeford, Jr., 96, formerly of 75 Maplewood Drive, Lewisburg, entered into rest Saturday, September 22, 2018, at Riverwoods, Lewisburg.

He was born October 28, 1921, in Greenville, South Carolina, the only son of Bennett R., Sr. and Elizabeth Thomson Willeford.  Ben’s twin sisters died shortly after birth and he never knew them.

Ben was educated in the public schools of Charlotte, North Carlolina, at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, and the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

In 1950, he became a member of the faculty of the Chemistry Department of Bucknell University, Lewisburg.  Ben taught there until his retirement in 1984.  After retirement from Bucknell, he continued to teach for 9 years at various schools in the United States including Earlham College and Baylor University, as well as schools in Germany, India, and Liberia.

Ben was actively involved with a number of local, national, and international peace and social justice organizations.

Surviving are two first cousins, Nancy Nickels of Charlotte, and Margaret Thomson McCallum of Chester, South Carolina.

A memorial service will be conducted at 2 p.m., Thursday, October 25th, at the First Baptist Church, 51, S. 3rd St., Lewisburg.

Memorial gifts may be made to either the First Baptist Church, 51, S. 3rd St., Lewisburg, PA 17837, or the Mennonite Central Committee, 21 South 12th St., Akron, PA 17501, or to another organization devoted to peace and social justice issues.

Funeral arrangements are by Roupp Funeral Home, Inc., 8594 Old Turnpike Rd., Mifflinburg.