Benjamin F. Smith

BENJAMIN F. SMITH Funeral services for longtime Cortez resident Benjamin F. Smith will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 25 at the Ertel Memorial Chapel. Private interment services will be held. Ben was born on July 4, 1922 in Marshall, Tex., the son of Benjamin Franklin Smith Sr. and Maude (Alexander) Smith. He passed away on Wednesday, September 19, 2007 at Denver Health Hospital at the age of 85. Ben served his country with the U.S. Army Air Corps during WWII. The lure of petroleum exploration and production took him and his beloved wife, June, to Cortez in the early 1950’s. His courage and entrepreneurship blossomed in the automotive business. He was also an avid rancher and enjoyed his chosen country lifestyle. Ben was a devoted husband and good father, always kind and optimistic and shall be greatly missed by family and friends. Surviving Ben are his loving wife of 63 years, June L. (Strofer) Smith; his son, Donald; his daughter, Caroline and husband, Brian; his sister-in-law, Phalice; his grandsons, David and wife, Heather, Martin and wife, Laura, Benjamin, Evan, Roderick, and Skylar; his granddaughters, Stephenie, Penelope and fiancé, Ted, Holly and fiancé, Aaron; his great-grandchildren, Christian, Bradley, Rueben, and Devin; and his niece, Georgia Jo Aulston and husband, Vernal and son, Brent. Ben was preceded in death by his parents. Memorial contributions may be made in Ben’s name to the charity of choice.