Benjamin B. Blount Jr. passed away on11/10/2017 at Hospice Atlanta after a lengthy illness due to a hereditary bleeding disorder(HHT). Born to Benjamin and Golos Blount. He grew up in Wrightsville GA where he was Valedictorian and a 4 letter athlete at Wrightsville High School. As a young boy he started a successful wholesale fishbait business shipping red wigglers all over the southeast. He started his career with Oxford Industries as an Auburn University Co-op student in Industrial Engineering. Ben was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Georgia National Guard and US Army Infantry and graduated as top Cadet at the Georgia Military Institute and was awarded the Gen. Hearn Trophy. After serving in various engineering and training positions with Oxford he was promoted to Manufacturing Manager during an exciting growth period for Oxford. He subsequently became President of Oxford’s Lanier Clothes division and Menswear group Manager. He was then named Corporate Group VP. He the left Oxford to become President of Gulf and Western’s Kaiser Roth Apparel group in NYC. After his first retirement Ben returned home to Atlanta where according to Ben he met Debbie “the love of his life and center of his soul” in 1987 and married her in 1991. He rejoined Oxford as Executive VP of Planning and Development and was elected to Oxford’s Board of Directors and held the position of Chief Financial Officer, positions he retired from in 2004. Retirement proved successful and joyous. Ben and Debbie enjoyed 30 years of love and laughter together and were constantly at each other’s side. Ben spent his years of retirement enjoying his passions of golf and skiing with Debbie. He volunteered on Vail Mountain as a member of the Community Guest Service Team, rescuing damsels in distress. He trained to be a ski instructor and enjoyed teaching skiing part time. Ben even tried his hand at caddying for Debbie….the only job from which he was ever fired, but briefly got that job back and served as Debbie’s caddie in a USGA Championship then hung up his caddie uniform for good. He was a 50 year wine enthusiast and student of wine although he referred to himself as a “wino”. Ben volunteered with Big Brothers of Atlanta, served on the Dean’s Advisory Board at the Auburn University School of Human Sciences. Ben served on the Board of Directors for the Kellwood Company, the Technical advisory committee for the American Apparel Manufacturer’s Association and President of the Atlanta Ski Club. He was a member of the Cherokee Town and Country Club, The Club at Cordillera and the Game Creek Club in Vail Colorado. He was also a member of the Commanderie De Bordeaux, The Chevalier du Tastevin and the Chain des Rotisseurs. Ben is survived by his loving wife Debbie (Seidel) and his beloved dog SamBeau the most misbehaved dog he ever trained and loved. Ben is also survived by his sister Fay Hendricks and her daughters Kelly Giles, Kyle Hendricks and Karen Ray. His other surviving nieces and nephew are Jeff Mixon, Maria Mixon and Leigh Mulvey, His In-laws Anthony and Loraine Seidel and Chris and Carol Mulvey. He is also survived by numerous cousins and the children of dear friends who lovingly called him “Uncle Ben”. He was predeceased by his parents and his sister Beverly Benfield. A special thank you to the loving staff of Hospice Atlanta who so perfectly cared for Ben these last 3 months. A celebration of Ben’s Life will take place Tuesday, the 14th of November at 130 pm at St Johns UMC 550 Mt Paran Rd NW Atl. 30327. Reception to follow at 3pm Cherokee Country Club 665 Hightower Trail. 30350. In Lieu of flowers contributions in Ben’s memory may be sent to “Cure HHT” PO Box 329 Monkton MD 211111 or Hospice Atlanta 1244 Park Vista Dr. Atlanta, GA 30319.
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