Benny was born June 9, 1932 in Westminster, Texas to sharecropper parents Kermitt L. Giles and Vivian L. McCarley Giles. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Jessie (2015), son Keith (2021) and brothers-in-law C. Paul Wood (1995), Joe Pendergrass (2020), Don Walker (2020) and sister Frances Wood Walker (2023).
Ben attended Westminster School until the family of five moved to Dallas in 1941. He graduated from W. H. Adamson High School in 1949, a second lieutenant in the ROTC and on their rifle team. As an Adamson student his classes in woodshop and mechanical drawing sparked an interest which continued until his death. He had a talent for drawings, building, and repairing things. Throughout Ben’s life he was a fix-it-man whatever that involved: machinery, appliances, cabinets, clocks, broken fences, etc. He insisted that things work right.
Benny was the quintessential never-met-a-stranger guy next door who loved people, country living, making sure things worked, and quarter horses which he raised, rode, and trained. His family he loved most. Always plain spoken and many times stubborn, Ben’s word was his bond.
Ben had a varied career always learning as much as he could. While in high school, he was a stock clerk at Neiman Marcus and while a student at North Texas State Teachers College (now University of North Texas) he worked at Goodyear Car & Home. He worked at Gulf Industries machine shop, Collins Radio and Vought Aircraft Industries plant. As a manufacturing and industrial engineer, he retired from LTV in 1992 after 31 years of service, including several highly classified projects. After retirement, he served on the Board of Directors of the Multi County Water Supply Corp for 5 years.
Benny was a faithful, long-time member of the church of Christ having been baptized in 1947 at the Cockrell Hill church. He served wherever his family lived in Dallas, Duncanville, Ennis, and Hamilton. He and Jessie opened their home to one and all during their 64 years of marriage. Their motto was, "the more the merrier”. Their gatherings were filled with fun and laughter as many young couple of the time can attest.
Benny and Jessie continued long-standing friendships all their lives, and he maintained those close connections with friends and extended family members until his death. He was the go-to person for family news.
After Jessie’s death, he married Joy Gromatsky, a Christian lady whom he and Jessie had met and known since moving to Hamilton County in 1992. Joy sadly passed away in October 2024.
Survivors include three children and spouses: son Mark (Carla) of Hamilton, daughters Suzi Climer (Scott) of Mesquite, and Amy Jones (Steve) of Katy, six grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren. Also surviving is his sister Maude Ann Pendergrass of Greenville and a host of extended family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Arms of Hope, which supports Medina and Boles Children’s Homes) at 21300 State Hwy 16 North, Medina, TX 78055 (830-522-2200).
