Biography: Dr. Ben O. Price, Sr., 77, passed away January 14, 2009. He was born in Cornerville, Arkansas, in Lincoln County, on September 15, 1931, to Olyn Stephens Price and Helen Marie Morrison Price. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Elizabeth Beverly Price; five children, Porter Price Puckett and her husband Bill, of Little Rock; Liz Balch Watkins and her husband Birge, of Warrenton, Virginia; Mary Price Jones and her husband Curtis, of Little Rock; Ben O. Price, Jr. and his wife Lucy, of Boise, Idaho; Anne Price Heiselmann and her husband John, of Boise, Idaho. Ten grandchildren; Elizabeth Puckett, William Puckett, Annie Lorton, Jameson Puckett, Sarah Price, C. Murdoch Jones, Porter Watkins, Thorne Watkins, Rob Watkins, Owen Heiselmann and one great-granddaughter Chloe Lorton; and one brother, John Porter Price and a niece, Mary Ashley Price Echols and her husband Drew Echols and their daughter, Alexandra Nicole Dearman, all of Monticello, Arkansas. Ben was educated in the Monticello public schools and graduated from University of Arkansas at Monticello in 1951. Upon completion of his undergraduate work he attended the University of Arkansas Medical School graduating in 1955 at the age of 24. After graduating from UAMS, Ben received degrees in both Internal Medicine and Cardiology. Ben was a well-known cardiologist in Little Rock for over 22 years, starting in 1966 until his retirement in 1982. He was in the United States Naval Reserve from 1955 until 1962 and attained the rank of Lieutenant Commander. Ben was a fellow of the American College of Cardiology. Ben traveled to all parts of the world including mountain climbing in Nepal, and walking thru the Antarctic. He was an avid fly fisherman and fished in streams throughout the world. One of his greatest joys was duck hunting and spending time at his duck camp, cooking, working on special projects and reading. He loved to experiment and invent new recipes and was famous for his culinary expertise. Ben was known for his love of dogs, having raised and trained several champion Labrador retrievers. Ben was renowned for his camping expeditions and would spend days, and sometimes weeks, preparing for them. One of his greatest joys was taking family and friends on his special excursions and everyone who attended always remembered the wonderful meals and fellowship. Those who knew Ben were amazed at his ability to recall facts and information on numerous subjects. Close friends often remarked that a conversation with Ben could be described as attending class; you always came away enlightened and entertained. A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, January 17 at 11:00 a.m., at Our Lady of the Holy Souls Catholic Church, 1003 N. Tyler Street, Little Rock. Interment will be held following the mass at the Holy Souls Columbarium. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for Memorials to be made to the Monticello Branch Library, 107 East Jackson, Monticello, Arkansas, 71655; the Pulaski County Humane Society, 14600 Colonel Glenn Road, Little Rock, AR 72210; Our Lady of the Holy Souls Catholic Church, 1003 N. Tyler Street, Little Rock, AR 72205-1749. Arrangements by Ruebel Funeral Home, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.
I just heard about your dad through the distant grapevine here in NC... I'm really sorry for your loss and wanted to say how much I always appreciated your dad for being so calm and nice - even after crashing the car on the way to a LR football game and having to tell him that his daughter had a huge knot on her head. As they say, "he was good people." I hope you are all well and that you can laugh and remember the good times you shared with him. Peace.
Love,
Mike Roberts