Richard Bennett Hamner

Richard B. (Ben) Hamner, son of John A. and Zilpha (Davis) Hamner passed away on November 3, 2015 at The Lakes in Banning, California. Ben was born on April 7, 1925 at home, on Magnolia Avenue and Tyler Street, in Riverside, California.

Ben enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II at the age of 17. He attended the University of Missouri for Diesel Engineer training and later was assigned to the USS SC 1354, a submarine chaser. Ben was in the D-Day invasion of Normandy and was on duty at Times Square in New York when the Japanese surrendered.

Ben married Viola Fredericks on April 4, 1953. They moved to Moreno Valley in 1956. Ben was Superintendent of the University of California Riverside Moreno Experimental Farm. After retiring, he became manager of the family owned Magnolia-Tyler Shopping Center in Riverside, California. Ben proudly served on the Riverside Grand Jury from 1978 - 1988. Ben and Vi moved to Sun Lakes Country Club in Banning, California in 1994 and then to The Lakes Retirement Facility in 2015. Ben was a member of the Beaumont Presbyterian Church.

Ben is survived by his loving wife, Viola; sister Florence Sleeper of Phoenix, Arizona and 23 nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his siblings Margaret Bird, Martha Drake, Rosemary Clayton and John D. Hamner.

Memorial service Friday, November 20, 2015, at 10:00am, at Beaumont Presbyterian Church, 702 Euclid Avenue, Beaumont, California. Graveside service Friday, November 27, 2015, at 10:45am, at Riverside National Cemetery, Staging Area #4, 22495 Van Buren Blvd, Riverside, California. Military Honors will be provided by the U.S. Navy.

Arrangement were entrusted to Weaver Mortuary, Beaumont, California.