Final Guardmount - VDHA Life Member #332 - K-9 Handler Ben Cox - U-Tapao 1967-68
It is with deepest sympathy that I must announce the passing of Life Member K-9 Handler Ben Cox.
We were notified yesterday, that Ben was still in ICU but was recovering well, when he took a turn for the worse and suddenly passed away on March 16, 2009.
Ben had just turned 80 on February 28th and had been experiencing bronchial pneumonia and other life threatening illnesses. He had just returned home from spending 10 days in the hospital. A few days later he returned to ICU, never to return home again.
Ben's family tried to keep us updated on Ben's health, during the last two weeks, and it was hit and miss the entire time. We were finally relieved when he seemed to be on the road to recovery and hoped he would be sent home soon.
As many of you know, Ben was the original Training NCOIC/Assistant Kennel Master at U-Tapao in 1968. He organized and built the original kennels at U-Tapao Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand.
The visitation will be at Kersey Funeral Home in Auburndale on Sunday, 22 March, at 1300 hrs for family and 1400 hrs for friends.
The service will be held at the First Baptist Church of Polk City on Monday, 23 March, with family to arrive at 0930 hrs and the service to begin at 1000 hrs.
The interment will be at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell at approximately 1400 hrs.
Anyone wishing to send flowers or a sympathy card for our lost brother can send it to Ben's wife at this address:
Mrs. Mary Cox
PO Box 412 222 Hanolia Ave.
Polk City, FL 33858-0412
If interested, you can send flowers to the Funeral home at this address:
Kersey Funeral Home
108 Lake Stella Drive
Auburndale, FL 33828
(863) 967-6700
Click here to see the map to Kersey Funeral Home:
http://national.citysearch.com/profile/2727800/auburndale_fl/kersey_funeral_home.html#profileTab-maps
The family has asked me to set up a memorial fund to the Thailand Dog Handlers Website at http://thailanddoghandlers.com
Anyone wishing to donate to the memorial fund, in lieu of flowers, may send their check to the Thailand Dog Handlers Webmaster at this address:
Dave Broeker
1712 Crescent Drive
Pekin, IL 61554
PayPal is also available. If interested please transfer funds to this PayPal account:
davebroeker@vdha.us
The family will be notified of all receipts to the memorial fund.
Thank you all for your patience and the many sympathy wishes that we have received for our good friend, Ben.
I will be attending Ben's funeral and have been asked to give the eulogy by his wife, Mary. It is such an honor to do so!
Anyone needing more information, may call me at these numbers:
Home phone until Thursday night: (309)347-2125
Dave's Cell phone: (815) 451-7239
Pat's Cell phone: (309) 696-4959
Please keep Ben and his family in your thoughts and prayers.
With Deepest Sympathy,
Dave Broeker
March 18, 2009; 22:00