Ben Spreen

Ben Spreen
Waldo Benjamin “Ben” Spreen, age 95, of New Castle, passed away Friday, April 19, 2013 at Heritage House of New Castle. He was born May 5, 1917 in Washington, Indiana to the late Waldo and Beulah (Hobson) Spreen.

He retired from Wilfong Construction and Farming in Hancock, Lawrence and Hamilton counties. He was a 50 year member of the Greenfield Masonic Lodge and was also a member of the Church of Christ in Williams Indiana. He was a pilot and enjoyed flying.

Survivors include his three children, John (wife, Rita) Spreen of New Palestine, IN, Linda (husband, Norman) Ratliff of Montrose, CO and Mary Jane Spreen (husband, Ray) Grogan of Iowa City, IA; a step-daughter, Shelia (husband, Kenneth) Cox of New Castle; six grandchildren (Karen Elsea and Kevin Spreen of New Palestine, IN, Dylan Hengstler of Arlington Heights, IL and Joel Hengstler of Las Vegas NV, and Abe Grogan and Lucy Davis of Iowa City IA) one step-grandchild, Kenny Cox of New Castle; eleven great grandchildren and three step-great grandchildren; brother, Perry Spreen of Sarasota, FL; two sisters, Margaret Armstrong of Williams, IN, and Betty Gore, of Mitchell, IN; and 20 nieces and nephews. His first wife, Levon (Thompson) is a resident of Iowa City, IA.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth (Applegate) Spreen, to whom he was married for 39 years; a daughter, Shirley Spreen; brother, Harold Spreen; two sisters, Maeda Kern and Erma Rimmel; and one step grandchild, Kelly Cox.

Services will be at 12:00 p.m. Thursday, April 25, 2013 at Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service in New Castle, with Reverend Robert Shaeffer officiating. Burial will follow in South Mound Cemetery-West Lawn Addition. Friends may call from 11:00 a.m. until the time of service at the funeral home. You may express condolences or share a memory of Ben at HYPERLINK " http://www.hinsey-brown.com " www.hinsey-brown.com .