John Ben Carrabba

John Ben Carrabba, industrialist, entrepreneur, husband, father, and friend passed away on Wednesday, the 14th of July 2010 at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, California, after a brief illness. John Ben was born on the 9th of November 1927 to Sam and Frances Carrabba in Bryan, Texas.

A natural born businessman, John Ben Carrabba started more businesses than can be listed. His first job was at the ripe old age of six when he sold peanuts on the streets of Bryan on Saturdays. During his entrepreneurial career, John Ben owned a filling station, a miniature golf course, a cleaning and alterations shop, a furniture store, a construction business, an assisted living center, a trailer manufacturing plant, a stable bedding plant, a cattle auction barn, an oil and gas company, a vineyard, and various other businesses. He developed subdivisions, commercial lease spaces, and an industrial park, and he raced horses and raised cattle.

With eight hundred dollars of borrowed money and an incredible work ethic, he founded Gooseneck Trailer Manufacturing Company in Bryan. The Gooseneck Trailer changed the way that beef cattle were marketed in the Southwest, because of the courage, dedication and intelligence of John Ben Carrabba. Whenever he spotted a trailer on the highway, he would look to see if the Flying Goose was emblazoned on the side.

He was one of the four founders of the Bryan Woodbine Oil Field in Brazos County, one of the most prolific fields found in Texas in the late 1970’s. While developing that field, he drilled or participated in 73 wells before ever hitting a dry hole. By the time the field had been completed, he had interest in 113 wells in that field.

In 1985, he met the love of his life, Cherie, whom he married two years later. John Ben left the only home that he had ever known, Bryan, Texas, to have a life with Cherie. He moved to Crockett, Texas and was constantly quoted as saying it was the best move of his life. He loved Crockett and quickly integrated himself into the community. He moved Carrabba Enterprises to Crockett and began doing what he did best, developing businesses and dabbling in oil and gas.

John Ben and Cherie were blessed to find a wonderful and supportive circle of friends in Crockett. They entertained often and were involved in numerous community activities. John Ben loved Cherie’s two children, Randy and Ryan, and as a family they traveled throughout the United States showing livestock. During this time he became close friends with several others who showed livestock. He loved to regale his Crockett friends with tales of their adventures on the road.

While John Ben and Cherie were married, they built three homes, an Assisted Living Center, and two office buildings in Crockett, the Panola County Livestock Auction Barn in Carthage, and a home in College Station, along with numerous renovation projects. When people asked them how their marriage survived those building projects, he would say, “We like having a project we can work on together. And, besides that, she knows that I am the boss.”

Everyone recognized John Ben’s love for Cherie, and Randy and Ryan. He was the best step-father that he could possibly be, becoming totally involved in the boys’ activities to the point of working in the concession stand at Friday night football games and decorating for the Junior -Senior Proms.

He was a member of the “Kollege of Knowledge,” a local group of businessmen who met for breakfast five days a week and solved the problems of the world.

He was a stockholder in Spring Creek Country Club as well as serving as a member of the Endowment Committee, Financial Committee, and Board of Trustees at First United Methodist Church. He was an Honorary Lifetime Member and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Texas Junior Livestock Association.

John Ben was one of the most generous men that ever lived, and he eagerly helped anyone whom he thought he could aid. He was constantly listening to the aspirations of young people and counseling them with the benefit of his experience.

In January of 2009, John Ben and Cherie’s son, Randy, died, and John Ben’s strength and wisdom helped the entire family through that horrible ordeal.

John Ben always thought like a young man. He surrounded himself with young people and said that was one of the things that kept him young. The other was Cherie. He drew from her energy and vitality, and he looked and acted like a much younger man.

An Aggie, John Ben closely followed Aggie athletics, cheering their victories and agonizing over their defeats.

He is predeceased by his son, the late Randall E. Rash; his sister, the late Rosalie Carrabba Lobello; and by his mother and father, the late Frances and Sam Carrabba.

John Ben is survived by his wife, Cherie Carrabba; his son, Ryan Rash of Crockett; and his sister-in-law, Michelle Howles, of Crockett.

He is also survived by his children from his first marriage and their spouses: David and Candice Carrabba, Mark and Kay Carrabba, and three grandchildren: Grant, Travis, and Ross Carrabba, all of Bryan.

In addition, John Ben is survived by his employees and friends, Howard Thomas, Mary Jane Walker, Daniel Pasho, Bill Poplin, Earl Krieger, Francisco Arvizu, and Francisco Tapia of Crockett. William Lewis of Crockett was like another son to John Ben.

In addition, he is survived by a wealth of friends from all across the country who sent countless messages and phone calls during this period.

He was a one of a kind, and will be so deeply missed by all who were fortunate enough to have crossed his path.

Honored to serve as casket-bearers during the services are George Beeler, Burl Hobson Sr., Dr. Richard Kelly, James Land, Larry Lehman, William Lewis, Bobby Maddox, Dr. Ernst Schwarz, and Howard Thomas.

Serving as honorary pallbearers are Barbara Beeler, Karen Huffman, Debbie Kelly, Nancy Land, Robbie Lehman, Francisco Arvizu, and Mary Jane Walker.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o’clock in the afternoon until half-past seven o’clock in the evening on Sunday, the 18th of July, in the sanctuary of the First United Methodist Church of Crockett, 701 East Goliad Avenue at Seventh Street in Crockett, Texas.

The funeral service is to be conducted at two o’clock in the afternoon on Monday, the 19th of July, also in the sanctuary of the First United Methodist Church of Crockett, where Dr. Jerry House, Pastor, is to officiate.

The interment is to follow, via an escorted cortege, in the family cemetery at the Carrabba’s home, La Bella Vista, located on State Highway 21 West in Crockett, Texas.

Kindly note that motorists traveling from Houston, so as to attend the services in Crockett, should estimate an approximate travel time of two hours.

For those desiring, donations in his memory may be directed to the John Ben Carrabba Memorial, in care of Citizens National Bank, P.O. Box 1420, Crockett, TX, 75835. Proceeds will be distributed to his favorite charities.