Benjamin Paul Berner

Benjamin Paul Berner passed away peacefully on July 15, 2025 at the age of 100.

Ben was born in 1925 in New Haven, Connecticut and spent his childhood summers by the sea and winters sledding on the hills of his New England home.

He joined the United States Army Air Corps in 1943 at the age of 18, completing pilot training just as World War II reached its conclusion. After the war, he flew transport missions to Canada and Alaska until he was recalled into Strategic Air Command in 1950 and began flying B-29 aircraft. He flew 25 combat missions against North Korea in 1951. He remained in Strategic Air Command for the duration of his Air Force career as a pilot, instructor and evaluator flying the B-29, B-47 and B-52 aircraft, and was an airborne missile squadron commander.

After retiring from the US Air Force in 1974 as a colonel, he lived a quiet life in Louisiana with his family where he cultivated roses and tomatoes, worked for the State of Louisiana and was an active member of his church.

Ben is now with his loving and devoted wife Juanita, who preceded him in death just a few short months ago after nearly 70 years of marriage.

He is survived by his son, Benjamin Berner, Jr., his daughter Stephanie Womble and her husband Ben, and daughter Melissa Taylor and husband Larry.

Ben is survived by five grandchildren: Aaron Womble and wife Kelly, Jeremy Womble and wife Fairen, Fiona Taylor, Everett Taylor and Elliott Taylor; and four great-grandchildren: Albert “Alby” Womble, Lou Ella Womble, Kaden Womble, and Kaylee Womble.

A funeral service will be held at Forest Park The Woodlands Funeral Home & Cemetery, located at 18000 Interstate 45 S, The Woodlands, TX 77384, United States. The service is scheduled for July 21, 2025, from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm.

Following the funeral service, a burial will take place at the same location from 3:00 pm to 3:30 pm.