Benjamin Holt Hayes, 88, of Ocala, Fla., died on Dec. 12, 2022 at the E.W. and Lucille Cates House.
Born in Yawkey, Sept. 19, 1934, Ben grew up in Parkersburg, graduating from Parkersburg High School in 1952. He attended West Virginia University, where he was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1956. Ben subsequently spent 3 ½ years in the Navy, serving as D.C. officer on the U.S.S. Yellowstone before entering West Virginia University School of Law in 1960 and being admitted to the bar in 1963.
Having met his bride, Helen Colson, during his law school tenure, the two were married in Morgantown on April 26, 1964, settling in Charleston, where Ben had begun his legal career in the attorney general’s offices. He later accepted a position with the legal department of Monongahela Power Company, where he spent the next 30 years of his career, retiring as president in 1994. During his initial years with the company, Ben and Helen lived in several different parts of the State, finally settling in Fairmont in 1972 to raise a family.
Ben was an active member of his church and community, generous through helping others who were in need, a champion for higher education and brought jobs to his home state of West Virginia. In his leisure time, he enjoyed boating, golfing, playing cards, horses, cars, martinis and a good steak dinner.
Ben was preceded in death by his parents, William and Besse Hayes.
He is survived by Helen, his wife of 58 years; daughter, Susan (Curtis) Sayre; son, William (Jennifer) Hayes; grandchildren, Edith, Alexandra and Mitchell Hayes; and sister, Margaret (nee Hayes) McKibben.
A short dedication service will be held at First Christian Church of Ocala at 11:45 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 15, followed by a reception at Country Club of Ocala. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Interfaith Emergency Services, P.O. Box 992, Ocala, FL 34478 (iesmarion.org/donate/).
