Ben Gilman
January 17, 1920 - July 19, 2004
Obituary
January 17, 1920- July 19, 2004. Ben was born in Portland, Oregon, to Ben and Levida Gilman. He grew up in Everett and Seattle, graduating from Queen Anne High School in 1938. He worked on the Alaska Highway, and served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps as a Technical Sergeant during World War II.
As a Boeing manager, Ben was active in various programs but spent many years supporting the Minuteman Program. He retired in 1981 with 34 years of service.
Ben was predeceased by his wife, Toni, who he married November 6, 1943. Toni was the love of his life. Through the years Ben and Toni enjoyed taking family boating trips, salmon fishing and in later years, trips to Hawaii and visiting their grandchildren in California. They lived in West Seattle for most of their married life, until 2001 when they moved to Mill Creek, Washington.
Survivors include his daughters, Jo-Anne Gary Henderson of Redmond and Christine Merle Cunningham of Bothell; two grandchildren, Jeannine Aaron Stephens of Davis, CA, and David Henderson of Goleta, CA; and brother William Gilman of Coupeville, WA
The family expresses their heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to Esmeralda Bautista and her staff at Woodhaven, who cared for Ben in his final days. Graveside services will be held, Saturday, July 24 at 1:00pm at Lakeview Cemetery, Seattle, WA.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the American Heart Association.
I first met Ben and Toni when I bought the house next door on Marine View Dr in 1992. Ben came over to see what all the noise was about, as we were remodeling the inside. Within a couple of days he had “self appointed” himself as supervisor of the project. I could never had found a better supervisor and friend. Both Ben and Toni will very missed by myself and my family. They were two of the most kind and wonderful people I ever had the joy of knowing.
Our heartgelt simpathy in your loss.