Palestine High School Alumni Association

07 / 20 / 1941  –  12 / 03 / 2010

SFC Ben Francis Fitzgerald, 69, born in Montalba, Texas resident of Malakoff, Texas formally of Corsicana, Texas passed away Friday, December 3, 2010 at home with his family.

Ben was born July 20, 1941 to the late Calvin Howard Fitzgerald and Sara Opal Kickhart Fitzgerald.

He attended Palestine High School. After graduation he joined the U.S. Marine Corp for 4 years. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War retiring in 1979 after 16 years. Ben was a business owner, Fitzgerald Shell, Fitzgerald Trading Post “Home of the Screaming Eagle”. After semi-retiring he worked for Mrs. Bairds part-time. After retirement he liked spending time with his family and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents Howard and Opal Fitzgerald his late wife Cecila Fitzgerald and his sister Ollie Fitzgerald.

He is survived by: Kelly and Melissa Fitzgerald of Idalou, Texas, Andrea and Tony Gilfillan of Malakoff, Texas, Susan Fitzgerald and Amanda Fitzgerald both of Tyler, Texas; grandchildren – Jennafer and Thomas White, Anna Worley, Cheyenne and Jonathan Jock, Dakota Fitzgerald, Kathrine Price, Arron Bynum, Landon Frazier, Wyatt Fitzgerald and Christian Gilfillan.

The family would like to include a special thanks to Cedar Lake Hospice and staff for all their support.

Visitation will be Monday, December 6, 2010 at the Griffin-Roughton Funeral Home from 6-8 p.m. Funeral service will be Tuesday, December 7th at the Griffin-Roughton Funeral Home chapel at 11:00 a.m., with Randall Evett officiating. Serving as pallbearers will be Randy Nanny, Todd Jones, Jay Hoover, Adam Mewbourn, Patrick May and Warren Loscuito. Burial will be in the Concord Cemetery in Montalba, Texas with Military Honors.

Source: Griffin-Roughton Funeral Home 12-06-2010