Ben Smith

Valley entrepreneur Ben L. Smith of Safford, AZ passed away peacefully July 8, 2012. Ben was born Jan 14, 1917 in the Willamette Valley in Jefferson, Oregon where his family had settled upon arriving on the first wagon train across the Oregon Trail in 1843. Ben grew up in the family grocery business eventually seeking drier Arizona climates for his mothers asthma in 1929. Ben worked in the family store at 1502 Grand Avenue while attending Phoenix Union High School and Phoenix Junior College graduating in 1936. The climate of San Diego led the family to San Diego opening Royal Food Mart near Balboa Park and other stores run by Ben and his brothers. In 1940, Ben married Elizabeth Snap and along came Bobby, Benny and Barbara in the early 40's. Soon after Ben enlisted and served in WWII as an Army Air Corp cryptographer coding and decoding messages throughout the Pacific Theatre until 1946. After the war, Ben returned to the family grocery business now operating from Oakdale, CA eventually arriving in Safford, AZ where he owned and operated Thriftee Supermarket along with his brother and father. Ben guided the development of the grocery business in Arizona as Chairman and Vice Chairman for 17 years of Associated Grocers the then 7th largest cooperation in Arizona. A hard working self described "grocery boy", Ben left a legacy of teaching hundreds of valley youth how to work hard prompting many employees to attest that Ben never walked anywhere, he ran. In 1970, Ben and Virginia Smith were married adding Denver, Kellie (Sugie), Danny and Darrin to the family. Ben enjoyed building and improving his "Sky Blue Ranch" like a park raising many types of domestic and exotic animals. He enjoyed trimming his hundreds of trees, and caring for the animals and would not let anyone else mow his lawn well into his 80's. Serving the community was akin to breathing for Ben. He was a founding member of the Safford Lions Club, served on the Red Cross board and 18 years on the Mount Graham Hospital Foundation Board. Ben served a couple times on the Safford City Council and Graham County Board of Supervisors. He was on the Graham County Chamber of Commerce board and a Boy Scout Master for many years. Ben was a voracious reader and author of many hundreds of poems, childrens stories and an abstract artist. Ben left an example behind of a supportive husband who loved unconditionally with all his heart, a father who constantly served sacrificially and provided graciously, a proud grandfather of 59 who loved and played with his grandchildren, a son and a brother who cherished his family, a story telling friend who could make anybody laugh, a magnetic force, always the center of attention. As a member of First Baptist Church in Safford for 42 years, he was a Christian that loved the Lord, a man of strength, dignity, integrity and character who always persevered joyfully and never complained. Ben is preceded in death by his Father and Mother William and Georgiana Belle Smith, his brothers William Smith of Safford, AZ, Everett Smith of Central, AZ and Delman Smith of Sonoma, CA and his daughter Kellie Smith and great grandson Emerson Smith. Ben is survived by his sister Josephine Cook of Chino Valley, AZ, his wife Virginia Smith of Safford, and his children Bob Smith (Mary Lou) of Auburn Alabama, Ben Smith (Libby) of Gainesville, Florida, Barbara Carpenter (Doug) of Pima, AZ , Denver McKinney of Tucson, AZ, Danny Smith (Deanna) of Safford, AZ and Darrin Smith (Monique) of Mission Viejo, CA. 21 Grand Children, and 38 Great Grandchildren. A celebration of Bens Life and Eternal Life will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 14, 2012 at the First Southern Baptist Church in Thatcher, 2934 W. 8th Street, Thatcher, with Pastor Ken Burke officiating. Viewing for Ben will be on Friday, July 13, from 6-8 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Safford, 1109 S. 7th Ave, in Safford.