RETIRED LIEUTENANT COLONEL BEN FANKLIN HAMMOCK

Ben Franklin Hammock, of Dixon, was born November 25, 1937, at Spring Hill, West Virginia, a son of Walter and Lucretia Jane (Thomas) Hammock, and departed this life on Friday evening, January 6, 2017, in the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital, Columbia. Ben had been in failing health for some time and had attained the age of 79 years, 1 month, and 12 days.

He was united in marriage on May 12, 1967, at El Paso, Texas, to Ina Rebecca Wheat. Ben was preceded in death by one son, Lawrence Weston Hammock; one daughter-in-law, Anita Hammock; his father, Walter; his mother, Jane; four brothers, James, Richard, Bill, and Ralph; and six sisters, Delcia, Mary, Katherine, Louise, Evelyn, and Sarah.

Ben was a faithful member of the First Baptist Church, Dixon. He was a 1956 graduate of South Charleston High School, South Charleston, West Virginia, where he learned one of his life's motoes "Tough as Nails, Hard as Bricks, Eagles Class of '56". Following graduation he worked at Union Carbide in South Charleston, until 1961 when he was drafted into the United States Army retiring in 1997, at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. While serving in the military he also attended Drury University graduating in May of 1982 with a degree in Sociology and Business. During his military career, Mr. Hammock was awarded and entitled to wear many medals including the Good Conduct Medal, and the Expert Infantryman Badge, Sharpshooter (Rifle). A man of excellent character, Ben's Honorable Discharge" is a testimonial of honest and faithful service to his country.

Ben was a professor at the Truman Educational Center for the Command and General Staff, Fort Leonard Wood. He had been a supervisor with Employment Security for the state of Missouri; was a Dixon Police Officer and was a Pulaski County Deputy Sheriff, later becoming the Mayor of Dixon. He was a member of the Liesmann-Roberts American Legion Post No. 298, the Dixon Optimist Club and later became Governor of Missouri for Optimist International. He enjoyed bowling, golf, and most of all he loved being with his family especially his children and grandchildren.

Those left to mourn the passing of Ben include: His wife of 49 years, Ina, of the home near Dixon; two sons, Ben F. Hammock II, and daughter-in-love, Collene Newby, Overland Park, Kansas; and Gary W. Hammock and, wife, Robin, Dixon; one daughter, Ina Lucretia Doba and, husband, Alfred, Dixon; Elizabeth Kearney-Hammock, (mother of Valerie, Max, Colin and Christopher), Lee's Summit; eleven grandchildren, Chasedy (Doba) Robinson, Israel Doba, Amber (Hammock) Lee, Valerie (Hammock) Love, Max Hammock, twins Colin and Christopher Hammock, Katrina Hammock, Kolby Doba, Ian Hammock, Lilly Doba, and one on the way; seven great-grandchildren; nephews; nieces; and other relatives and friends.

Interment with full military honors will be at a later date in the Missouri Veterans Cemetery, Fort Leonard Wood. Honorary Pallbearers are members of the Liesmann-Roberts American Legion Post No. 298, Larry Eberle, Robert Phillips, Duayn Slone, Alfred Quick, and Darren Middleton.

Memorials are suggested to the St. James Missouri Veterans Home Christmas Fund with envelopes available at the Dixon Office of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Home, 105 East Third Street or in care of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Home, P.O. Box EE, Dixon, Missouri 65459.