Benjamin Varner

Benjamin Scott Varner, 19, beloved son, brother and student of Gallaudet University in Washington D.C., died Saturday, February 3, 2001. Born to proud parents, Willie and Diane Varner, in Tacoma, Washington, June 8, 1981, the family relocated to San Antonio, Texas in 1982 where he attended Sunshine Cottage School for the Deaf to begin speech and audiological training. Ben later transferred to Oak Grove Elementary School in the third grade where he continued to thrive in scholastic studies as well as improving his hearing and speaking abilities. Teachers described him as a child with a kind and generous spirit. He continued his schooling at Garner Middle School and MacArthur High School where he excelled in academics, including Spanish, history, geography, religion, accounting and the sciences. Ben longed to one day travel the countries of the world, meeting and interacting with people of different cultures. He graduated from MacArthur High School in May of 2000. In August, 2000 he was granted a scholarship to world renowned Gallaudet University in Washington D.C., an institution primarily for the deaf and hearing impaired, where he was currently a freshman striving for a degree in accounting. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Vernon and Grace Moore, Kate and William Varner; and uncle, L.D. Moore He is survived by his parents, Willie and Diane Moore Varner; sister, Jennifer Varner; and nephew, Tristan Moore of San Antonio; aunts, Sarah Bixler and Ernestine Henderson of Clinton, AR, Dorthy Varner and Shirley Varner, both of St. Louis, MO; uncles, Robert Varner, of St. Louis, MO; and Don Paul Varner of Conway, AR.