Ben H. Cockcroft, 75, of New Smyrna Beach died Friday, January 22, 2010. Ben was born in Bay Harbor, Fl and grew up in Fernandina Beach. He graduated from Andrew Jackson High School in 1952 and later attended Emory University in Georgia where he obtained his Associates degree in 1954. He joined the United States Air Force in 1955 and, upon discharge, married and moved his family to Denver Colorado. He worked various jobs including one at the Coors Porcelain Company, Rocket Fuel Division before entering the banking industry where he spent the majority of his working career. He graduated from the Colorado School of Banking in 1966. Ben returned to Florida in 1971 and worked for the First National Bank of Lake City before moving to New Smyrna Beach in 1979. He worked for the Southeast Bank on Canal Street for seven years and was President of Volusia County Bankers Association in 1983. He then worked as Vice President of Tenchi Machinery in Edgewater for 16 years before retiring in 2000. During retirement, he enjoyed working with computers and loved the challenge of keeping up with the latest technology. Ben also enjoyed camping with his children and grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his mother, Ruth Ward and father Haywood Cockcroft (Billie). He is survived by three children, daughters, Cythe Shiver and husband, Joe, of Lake City, FL and Kynah Cockcroft of Port Orange; son, Jason Cockcroft of New Smyrna Beach; grandchildren, Nynah Billingsley and husband Billy of Lake City and Cassie Dobbins and husband Dylan of San Francisco; great grandchildren Bryannah, Biancah and Branson Billingsley; Colin and Makena Dobbins; and step-father, Dan Romhild of New Smyrna Beach.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to your favorite charity of Hospice of Volusia/Flagler, 3800 Woodbriar Trail, Port Orange 32129.
A private family memorial service is planned.
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