Bennie "Ben" Joe Patrick

Bennie “Ben” Joe Patrick, age 83, of Winder, GA, passed away Tuesday, June 4, 2013. During his life, he was a member of the First Christian Church of Winder. Ben retired from Lockeed and the Gwinnett County School System. He served in the United States Air Force as an Airman First Class during the Korean conflict. Ben participated in Operation Deep Freeze with Lockeed. He went to the South Pole December of 1960 through early the early part of 1961. This was one of the many projects he volunteered for when he left the Air Force and went to work at Lockeed (1954-1972). He was an integral part of the flight test team where he participated in tests of the C141, C130, and C5A. Ben was preceded in death by his parents, John Luther and Effie Rutledge Patrick. Survivors include his wife, Sara Elder Patrick; his son, Scott (Shelby Price) Patrick; daughters, Nancy (Dave) Flanagan, Sherry (Gary) Crowder, Kathy (Ron) Bridgefarmer, and Gaye (Eric) Farmer; a sister, Shirley Patrick; seven grandchildren, Kelly, Katie, Patrick, Carrie, Brandon, Brett, and Paige; and eight great-grandchildren, Peyton, Mackenzie, Connor, Addison, Alivia, Kylie, Emma, and Madilyn. The family will receive friends from 5-9:00 pm at Smith Funeral Home, Winder, on Wednesday, June 5, 2013. The funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm at the First Christian Church of Winder on Thursday, June 6, 2013 with Reverend Jim Brooks officiating. The burial will follow the service at Barrow Memorial Gardens, Winder. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Christian Church of Winder, 275 N. 5th Ave., Winder, GA, 30680. Smith Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.