Dr. Ben O. Price Sr., 77, passed away Jan. 14, 2009. He was born in Cornerville, Ark., in Lincoln County, on Sept. 15, 1931, to Olyn Stephens Price and Helen Marie Morrison Price.
Ben was educated in the Monticello public schools and graduated from University of Arkansas at Monticello in 1951. Upon completion of his undergraduate work he attended the University of Arkansas Medical School, graduating in 1955 at the age of 24. After graduating from UAMS, Ben received degrees in both internal medicine and cardiology.
Ben was a well-known cardiologist in Little Rock for over 22 years, starting in 1966 until his retirement in 1982. He was in the U.S. Naval Reserve from 1955 until 1962 and attained the rank of lieutenant commander. He was a fellow of the American College of Cardiology.
Ben traveled to all parts of the world, including mountain climbing in Nepal and walking through the Antarctic. He was an avid fly fisherman and fished in streams throughout the world. One of his greatest joys was duck hunting and spending time at his duck camp, cooking, working on special projects and reading. He loved to experiment and invent new recipes, and was famous for his culinary expertise. Ben was known for his love of dogs, having raised and trained several champion Labrador retrievers.
Ben was renowned for his camping expeditions and would spend days, and sometimes weeks, preparing for them. One of his greatest joys was taking family and friends on his special excursions, and everyone who attended always remembered the wonderful meals and fellowship.
Those who knew Ben were amazed by his ability to recall facts and information on numerous subjects. Close friends often remarked that a conversation with Ben could be described as attending class; you always came away enlightened and entertained.
Ben is survived by his wife of 52 years, Elizabeth Beverly Price; five children, Porter Price Puckett and her husband, Bill, of Little Rock, Ark.; Liz Balch Watkins and her husband, Birge, of Warrenton, Virg.; Mary Price Jones and her husband, Curtis, of Little Rock, Ark.; Ben O. Price Jr. and his wife, Lucy, of Boise, Idaho; Anne Price Heiselmann and her husband, John, of Boise, Idaho; 10 grandchildren, Elizabeth Puckett, William Puckett, Annie Lorton, Jameson Puckett, Sarah Price, C. Murdoch Jones, Porter Watkins, Thorne Watkins, Rob Watkins and Owen Heiselmann; one great-granddaughter, Chloe Lorton; a brother, John Porter Price; and a niece, Mary Ashley Price Echols and her husband, Drew Echols, and their daughter, Alexandra Nicole Dearman, all of Monticello, Ark.
A funeral mass was held on Saturday, Jan. 17, at Our Lady of the Holy Souls Catholic Church in Little Rock. Interment followed the mass at the Holy Souls Columbarium.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for memorials to be made to the Monticello Branch Library, 107 East Jackson, Monticello, AR 71655; the Pulaski County Humane Society, 14600 Colonel Glenn Rd., Little Rock, AR 72210; Our Lady of the Holy Souls Catholic Church, 1003 N. Tyler St., Little Rock, AR 72205-1749.
Arrangements were done by Ruebel Funeral Home, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.
