Ben C. Mears, Jr.

Ben C. Mears Jr. (RED)

89, of West Alexandria, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. He was surrounded by family as he passed into eternity.

Ben was born at home on a snowy May 1, 1935, in Miamisburg, Ohio to the late Ben C. and Elizabeth B. (Horner) Mears, the eldest of six children.

He is survived by Debbie Louder (Bob), Kevin Mears (Angie), grandsons, Brooks Louder, Ben David Mears, and granddaughter Breanne Elizabeth Crittenden, step granddaughters Julia and Abigail Loch and six great grandchildren. Also survived by his siblings Betty Thompkins (Veron), JoAnne Knight, (Wes- deceased) Marlin (Butch) Mears (Kim), Huelene Mears Noel, and sister-in-law Brenda Mears.

In addition to his parents, Ben was preceded in death by his wife, Josie G. Mears, and brother Russ Mears.

Ben’s parents were local farmers and he attended Farmersville High School. His first job was picking apples for Bud Lightner pulling an apple cart with his pony. This started him on a series of unique jobs throughout his early life, including working as farm help and weekend auctioneer gigs, but mainly finding himself in the auto body repair trade. In between these jobs, he worked at NCR where he met his wife of 42 years, Jo.

In the late 60s’ he started Mears Body and Frame in New Lebanon. Concurrent with his hard work at the body shop, he was able to further his passion for horses. He bred, raised, and trained many horses in multiple facets of the equine industry, to include World Champion Halter horses, nationally recognized Cutting and Reining horses. He was a World Champion Reiner and he served two terms on the NRHA board of directors. His equine interests lay not only with performance horses but also thoroughbred racehorses, both in breeding and racing. Ben was an innovative promoter and marketer, selling high end horses nationwide. This led him to founding and running The Select Futurity, a promotional program to promote sires and hosted horse shows across the country.  He was the “Senior” partner in B&K Show pigs with his son, proudly producing champion show pigs at many fairs across the Midwest along with champions at Ft Worth, Houston, and San Antonio Stock shows.

Ben was a larger-than-life character, with his colorful personality, he excelled at everything he attempted. He loved hard work and the feeling of accomplishment that came with hard work. He believed you could do anything if you set your mind to it and enjoyed mentoring anyone who had wisdom enough to listen.  In Ben’s last several years he came to proclaim Jesus as his Lord and Savior, as he enjoyed telling everyone “I am a blessed man”. Even in the midst of his struggle with Leukemia, he personified the verse in @ Timothy 4:7, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith…”

A graveside service will be held Tuesday, May 21 at 11AM at Preble Memory Gardens Cemetery, 3377 US Route 35 East, West Alexandria 45381. A celebration of life service and lunch will be held after the graveside service at Salem Church of God 6500 Southway Rd. Clayton Ohio 45315.

The family would like to thank the staff of the Grandview Hospital for their kind care during his last few days.

Contributions in Ben’s memory may be made to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society | Donor Services | PO Box 22324, New York, NY 10087.

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