Benjamin B Udd

Ben was born on April 8, 1929, in Issaquah, WA, only a few months before the stock market crash and the beginning of the Great Depression. When he was five the state of Washington made him a ward. He was shuffled between eight foster homes for three years before landing with Mr. and Mrs. Fred Saunders of Nahcotta, WA.

As part of the Greatest Generation, Ben served in the US Army Air Corps and went to Korea as a sergeant in Motor Vehicle Operations. He returned to Texas, serving at Bergstrom Air Force Base in Austin, where he met and married Helen Ione Waddell. Ben had two daughters with Helen; they divorced in 1970. That same year Ben married Dovie Mae Green of Arlington and acquired step-daughters.

He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Theresa and Matthew Kushner of Dallas; his step-daughter Barbara Ann Ruthart, and step-daughter and son-in-law, Martha and Charles Carter of Crowley; his grandchildren: David Kushner (Dallas), Charles Ruthart (Arlington), Gia Binkowski (Pflugerville), Tanya Pemberton (Cypress), Charis Hendrick (Corsicana), Lauren Meyer (Katy, TX), and Syndi Byrne (Eustace). He also leaves nine great-grandchildren.

Ben is preceded in death by his two wives and his youngest daughter, Lesa Brecht (Waxahachie).

Ben graduated from TCU at the top of his math class in 1959. He then went on to work as an engineer at General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, and NASA. In 1980, he left the corporate world and started a computer company, UDD Systems. Along with his company, Ben and Dovie also owned the Palace Day Schools in Arlington for over 20 years.

Ben had a quick wit and a mean chess game, was a crack pool player, and enjoyed watching the Comedy Channel equally as much as FOX News and the Dallas Cowboys. As a lifelong Republican, he initially participated in the Tea Party movement. Ben also had a lifelong love affair with trucks and cars. He had a generous heart and was always ready to give to anyone in need. In 1988, Ben drove over 1,000 miles to return $2 (plus interest) that he had borrowed from a stranger while hitchhiking back to his base in 1948.

A visitation for Ben will be held Monday, April 29, 2024 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Bean-Massey-Burge Funeral Home, 2951 S. Belt Line Road, Grand Prairie, TX 75052. A funeral will occur Tuesday, April 30, 2024 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM, 2951 S. Belt Line Road, Grand Prairie, TX 75052. A committal will occur Tuesday, April 30, 2024 from 1:30 PM to 2:00 PM at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Pkwy, Dallas, TX 75211.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Korean War Veterans are appreciated.