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Benjamin Carlton Eakin entered his heavenly home on July 11, 2022, at the age of 87.  He was born in Climax, Georgia, November 4, 1934, to James Earl and Lois Olivia Eakin. He left the day after graduation.

While stationed at Lowrey Air Force Base, Denver, Colorado, he met his wife Bessie Radine Moffitt. The story goes that he and two buddies were on their way to Estes Park and stopped in Longmont. They saw Radine and two of her friends and asked if they needed a ride. Ben made sure that Radine sat in the front next to him. Three months later they were married an hour after she graduated from High School because he had orders for England. They had two daughters, Teresa and 11 months later, Linda while in England. They celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary last May.

During his twenty years in the Air Force, he was stationed in 5 different countries and 4 different states. He was part of the Strategic Air Command as a missile mechanic. His last tour of duty was in Aviano, Italy and he retired in June of 1974.

They moved to Loveland, Colorado, after he retired, he worked 16 years at Kodak. He was the elevator mechanic for the plant in Windsor. It was his dream to retire in his hometown so after 20 years in Loveland, they moved to Climax, Georgia. Their daughters moved them to Grand Junction in March of 2019 due to their health.

Ben served as deacon, Bible study teacher, Youth Director, Senior Adult Director and Music Leader in many of the Baptist churches he was part of. He loved singing special music with his two daughters. You would hear him whistling the hymns as he was working on cars or creating cradles, rocking horses or rocking chairs from wood for his grandchildren.

Ben loved his daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was a fun Papa that everyone loved. He never missed a soccer, baseball game or track meet if he was in town. He loved to tease and play with all the children.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Lois Eakin; his two brothers, Dick and Irvin; and three sisters, Eloise, Helen and Gwen.

He is survived by his wife, Bessie Radine of Grand Junction; daughters Teresa McGraw and husband Mark McGraw of Prague, Oklahoma, and Linda Bradley of Grand Junction, Colorado; his sister Joan and husband Leon Wilkie of Evans, Georgia.

His Grandchildren, Christina and husband Nathan Vanderbeek of Brooten, Minn., Joshua Strawn and wife Jodie of Aurora, Colo., Jeremy Strawn and wife Betsy of Trophy Club, TX, Robert Tennyson and wife Jamie of Grand Junction,Colo., Jessica and husband Mark Bousselaire of Littleton, Colo., and Joe Tennyson and wife Julie of Grand Junction. He has 13 Great-Grandchildren, Hudson, Watson, Edison, Benjamin, Abby, Liam, Mila, Alexis, Zach, Axel, Faith, Wallace and Molly.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Hope West Hospice: https://www.hopewestco.org/donate/ .

Benjamin Carlton will be laid to rest in his hometown, Climax, Georgia, on July 28, 2022.

Online visitors may sign the guest register at www.iveyfuneral.com.

The Memorial Service with military honors will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, July 23rd, 2022, at Maranatha Baptist Church with Reverend Tim Dean officiating. A private interment will be held at Cedar Grove Cemetery. Due to the ongoing concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, those attending are asked to maintain the recommended safe social distancing of six feet and/or wear protective masks in accordance with the State of Georgia guidelines.

Ivey Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements.