Ben grew up in Southern Oklahoma in the Dillard oil field, near Fox, Oklahoma in Carter County. He attended Fox High School before leaving at the end of his junior year where he was President of the Student Body and joined the Merchant Marines at age 16. Ben returned after a tour of duty in the Pacific Theatre and graduated in 1946 from Duncan High School, Duncan, Oklahoma. He accepted a football scholarship from the University of Oklahoma. He was a member of the Football and Boxing teams. Ben was a Golden Glove boxing champion in Oklahoma before college. He spent most of his boxing time as a member the Daily Oklahoman boxing team.
During Ben’s freshman year at Oklahoma he quit college and enlisted in the Army spending the next five years in Japan and Korea. Ben’s longest post was in Tokyo, Japan as part of “C” Company of the 720th MP Battalion. Ben retired from the Army in 1951 and again after being recalled to Korea. Dad was a decorated combat veteran receiving two Bronze Stars while serving in Korea.
Ben was an entrepreneur, dreamer, inventor and author who spent most of this career in the Human Resource / Insurance and Risk Management business. He started and sold dozens of companies in his life including Insurance Agencies, Health Care Companies, Country Stores and Real Estate. He was a pioneer in the Insurance and HR Outsourcing industries. He was a Fellow, Life Management Institute (FLMI) member. Dad returned to the oil patch in early 1953 around Hollis, New Mexico and exited the oil patch after a stand of drill pipe landed on his foot. Fate landed him at Aetna Life & Casualty in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma where is spent the next 18 years traveling coast to coast as Regional Controller at Aetna. Dad was happiest when he was running several businesses at the same time with family and friends as partners. Once an idea was proven he was onto the next one.
Ben was the Husband of his wife of 56 years. He met Patricia Loftis Evans on a blind date in Oklahoma City. Ben’s traveling continued in marriage owning more than a dozen homes from coast to coast, eventually returning to Arkansas and Oklahoma in the 1970’s.
Ben was preceded in death by his Mother, Father, brother J.W. (Dub) Herrell and Sister Betty Wood. He is survived by a Sister Jean Scott of Amarillo, Texas and numerous Nieces and Nephews. Ben was a Father and Grandfather. He was preceded in death by daughter Paula Adams, granddaughter Natalie Adams and great grandson Harper Herrell. He is survived by his wife Pat of Fort Smith, Arkansas, sons Ben Herrell, Jr. of Catoosa, Oklahoma and Mr. & Mrs. Jeff & Julie Herrell of Fort Smith, Arkansas. Grandsons Cole Adams, Tyler Herrell, Nicholas Herrell, Thomas Herrell, Harrison Herrell, George Herrell. Granddaughter Rachel Herrell, Great Granddaughter Kennedy Adams and Great Grandson Sampson Herrell.
Graveside Memorial Service will be Saturday, November 5, 2016 at 11:00 AM at Greenhill Cemetery 1500 N. York in Muskogee, Oklahoma.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to: American Parkinson Disease Association, - Oklahoma Chapter, PO Box 3113, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma 74013. Visit www.okparkinsons.com
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18