Benjamin Franklin Elkins Sr., 87, of Cumberland, Md., (formerly of Romney, W.Va.), passed away on Sunday, June 8, 2014, at the home of his daughter.
Ben was born in Cumberland, to the late Forrest Darrell Elkins and Gladys Shelvia (Rankins) Elkins on Dec. 22, 1926. He graduated from Sutton High School (W.Va.) in 1944. After high school, he served in the United States Navy. Back in Cumberland, he earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in secondary education and a Master of Science in management from Frostburg State College in 1955 and 1972, respectively. During college, he worked at the Potomac Edison Company. He moved up and within the company to manager of sales training and manpower development in Hagerstown, Md.; assistant division manager in Romney, W.Va., and manager of the valley area until his retirement in 1996 after 34 years of service.
After retirement, Ben settled in Romney, and stayed active and engaged. He focused on serving his community as three-term board member then president of the Hampshire County Board of Education, board member for the Burlington United Methodist Family Services, president of the Mason-Dixon Council Boy Scouts of America, president of the Hampshire County Development Authority, president of the Potomac Comprehensive and Diagnostic Center, and past-president of the Romney Rotary. He was most fond of his time as a volunteer in mission with the United Methodist Volunteers in Mission. This mission work took him to many different countries, with Russia being most special (62 plus trips to Russia).
Ben was preceded in death by his wife of 36 years, Barbara (Chilcotte) Elkins; son, Benjamin Elkins Jr.; his parents, and two brothers (William and Robert). He is survived by one brother, James Elkins and a son, F. Steven Elkins (wife Barbara) of Hagerstown; daughter, Carol (Elkins) Gaumer (husband Greg) of Cumberland, daughter, Sharon Elkins of Waynesboro, Pa., and daughter-in-law, Donna Elkins (wife of deceased son, Ben). He was loving grandfather to seven, Kristin (Shoemaker) Baker, Benjamin Elkins III, Christopher Elkins, Gregory Elkins, Patrick Elkins, Brady Gaumer, Alexis Gaumer and great-grandfather to three, Kaiden and Kameron Baker, Sophia Elkins.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 11, 2014, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Scarpelli Funeral Home P.A. McMullen Highway in Cresaptown, Md.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, June 12, 2014, at 11 a.m. also at Scarpelli Funeral Home in Cresaptown, with burial at Sunset Memorial Park, Cumberland.
Military honors will be accorded by the Post 13 Veterans Honor Guard.Arrangements through the Scarpelli Funeral Homes, 15205 McMullen Highway, SW, Cresaptown