Benjamin Norman Theall was born November 22, 1925, in White plains, New York; the son of Benjamin Harrison Theall and Florence Gertrude Theall. After graduating from White Plains Sr High School in 1943, he served in the U.S. Army, from 1944 to 1946 where he trained as a medic initially, and was transferred to the infantry. His military service took him to Europe during WWII with the 357th Infantry Regiment. After his honorable discharge, he enrolled in New York University and graduated with a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering degree in June 1951. Also in 1951, he was commissioned a Lieutenant in the Signal Corps, US Army Reserves, and was honorably discharged in 1954. He was employed by General Electric Company in various engineering assignments. He entered the Civil Service in 1956 at Aeronautical Systems Division (then Wright Air Development Center) working in specifications and standards for electrical and electronic parts and afterwards in standardization of various electrical and electronic parts and equipment. In 1960, passed the state examinations and was registered as a Professional Electrical Engineer in the state of Ohio. He was also registered as a Professional Quality Engineer in Cailfornia. Before entering the Air Force Institute of Technology he worked in the area of reliability and maintainability of equipment assigned to the Directorate of Aerospace Ground Equipment Engineering.
He married Jacqueline Sampson on November 14, 1953. They moved from Massachusetts to New York; Dayton, Ohio; and Palos Verdes, California, before retiring in Tigard, Oregon in 1988. Both Ben and Jackie were Master Gardeners. Jackie pre-deceased Ben in 1992. Thereafter, Ben continued to reside in their Tigard home, where he enjoyed his daily walks and sharing in the lives of his neighbors, all of whom considered him part of the family.
Ben leaves behind his sister in law, Teri Theall Washington and her two daughters Christie Hudson and Tricia Theall; his nephews, Arthur Sampson III, Jason Sampson, Matthew Sampson and Philip Sampson, his dear friends Lynne, Marilou, Jane and Jerry, and his devoted caregiver, Elena.
Private interment will be at Willamette National Cemetery, Portland, Oregon.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggestions contributions to the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).
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