William Ben Pool

William Ben “Pete” Pool was born February 13, 1916 at home in Oswalt, OK, to Maud Knight and Jay C. Pool. Ben was the 5th of ten children. He was preceded in death by his parents and all siblings. At age 16, he made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ at Bowles Baptist Church, Love County, OK.

Upon high school graduation from Meadowbrook High School in 1934, he attended the University of Oklahoma for two years; then returning to Marietta, OK, to work on his family farm. Ben remained a lifelong Sooner Fan. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1936 and served on the U.S.S. New Mexico Battleship-receiving an honorable discharge in 1940. Upon the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Ben re-enlisted in the Navy and was stationed at U.S. Naval Air Station, Corpus Christi, TX.

During that time, God intervened in his life and he married his beloved wife, Alpha. At war’s end, he returned to join his wife and family at the family farm. In 1943, they moved to Midwest City, OK, where he worked at Tinker Air Force Base as an aircraft mechanic and crew chief until his retirement in 1972.

Ben was preceded in death by his wife, Alpha and one son, Bobby. He is survived by 3 children-Linda Lewis and husband Ron of Atlanta, GA; Veda Shapard and husband Bill of Oklahoma City; and Jay Pool of Oklahoma City; 5 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

A long-time member of Sooner Baptist Church, Midwest City, OK, since 1953, he loved and served the Lord as best he could and set an example of faith for his family. During his later years, he took great joy in listening to the reading of the Bible and singing the old-time hymns with his caregivers, Pam Shopteese and Susan Guidry.

Ben passed away on Tuesday, May 8, 2012 after a brief illness. Funeral service will be held at Sooner Baptist Church, Midwest City, OK, at 11:30am on Friday May 11, 2012 with interment to follow at Sunny Lane Cemetery, Del City, OK. Condolences may be left at www.eisenhourfuneral.com

His children, grandchildren and great grandchildren rejoice that he is with the Lord for eternity. They celebrate his life.