George "Georgie Porgie" Ben, Sr.

On the late afternoon of October 20, 2017 at a local hospital, God called down from heaven and George Ben, Sr. age 68, graciously and peacefully accepted God's call.

George M. Ben, Sr. was born April 5, 1949 to the late Rose Pellerin Ben and Anatole Ben, Jr. in Lake Charles, La. He was born the last of five children. George knew God at a very young age. He was always faithful to his church and very proud of his faith.

He attended Second Ward Colored Elementary School in Lake Charles and St. Augustine Seminary in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. He became lonesome for home and returned to Lake Charles, La. in 1962. In 1967, George graduated from W.O. Boston High School. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Studies from Southern University in 1971. He worked at Southern University as a Graduate Assistant in the Education Technology Department. George met Gilda Fontenentte at Southern University and it was love at first sight. They married on July 4, 1970. To this union, two children were born, George M. Ben, Jr. and Gregory J. Ben.

George returned to Lake Charles to work at Hercules (Himont) from 1972 to 1973. After that, he taught 7 ^th grade American History at S. P. Arnett Junior High School in Westlake, La. for a short time. Later he worked as a lab analyst at Georgia Gulf, retiring after 38 years of service in 2012. George was part owner of the T-Shirt Warehouse chain and managed the T-Shirt Warehouse Park Plaza Store. He later became owner and co-manager of Georgie Porgie T-Shirts and Barber Shop, a mainstay in the community.

George never hid his faith and was always encouraging others to pray and go the church. He was a dedicated parishioner of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, where he served on the Parish Council, and the School Board, was a Eucharistic minister in the church, and also brought Holy Communion to the sick and shut in. He was also a member of the St Joseph Society, the Sacred Heart of Jesus Male Chorus, Knights of Peter Claver (until his health began to fail). He also served as Assistant Junior Knight Commander of the Knights of Peter Claver. He was also involved with the Sacred Heart Boy Scouts and the school basketball team. He worked faithfully in the church until he couldn't manually serve any longer. He prayed SEVERAL rosaries daily for his family, his church, the community, and all his friends. George was a very proud and dedicated member of the community.

George was a proud member of the Gamma Iota Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity (president, 1991-1992). He was Sigma man of the year in 1998; he was inducted into the Louisiana distinguished service chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., and was lifetime  member of the Southern University Alumni. He was a member of the Second Ward W.O. Boston alumni and was a member of Krewe DeClassique.

George was preceded in death by his parents, Rose Pellerin Ben and Anatole Ben, Jr., his brother, Albert Ben, sister, Rose Ella Ben; his mother-in-law Alberta Savoy Fontenette and father in law, Joseph Fontenette and also brother in law, Larry Fontenette.

He leaves to cherish the love of his life, his wife Gilda Fontenette Ben, faithful and honorable sons George M. (April) Ben, Gregory J. Ben, who was faithfully dedicated to his father's care, his grandson, Donovan Ben, who he love dearly and was very proud of. Two sisters, Anna (Joseph) Hamilton of Lake Charles, La, Rosa Hemphill of Tampa, Florida, two godchildren, Garland Hamilton and Sterling August Jr. He also leaves to cherish a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, friends and coworkers.

Smile this day, and remember how he picked up the cross God gave him and carried it very well!