Ben R. “Doc” Strode, 88 of Carlinville, passed away at 1:25 p.m. on Friday, December 4, 2020, at his son’s home in Springfield while surrounded by his wife and family with Hymns playing in the background.

Ben was born December 1, 1932, in Blyton, IL, a son of Wesley and Jennie (Mason) Strode. He married the former Mary Elizabeth Williamson on April 11, 1954, in Cuba, Illinois.

Ben’s 88 years of accomplishments and recognitions are too numerous to list so here are a few of his favorites. Ben graduated from Cuba High School in 1951 and was drafted into the army in 1954 during the Korean War. Ben served as a clerk/typist for intelligence while stationed in Austria which was considered the music capital of the world. How fitting. Ben returned from Austria to complete his degree at Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois. During that time, Ben worked in a Macomb funeral home, studied, and was an avid participant in the Western Illinois Gymnastics program where his specialty was the ring competition.

He graduated in 1956 with a BS in Music and Physical Education. Ben began his teaching career in Greenfield from 1956 to 1962 teaching elementary/junior high vocal music and PE including a Gymnastics Club. Ben and his family moved to Carlinville in 1962 starting a new chapter in his teaching career. He started teaching vocal music and physical education grades 1 through 12 traveling to multiple small schools in CSUD #1. Ben soon started as the announcer for high school football games and then he became a trainer for the team in 1968 doing all the pregame taping and injury care.

Ben was instrumental in starting the Carlinville Area Ambulance Service earning his EMT-1 certificate around 1976. He spent 30 years working on the ambulance crew and at the hospital. Ben retired from teaching in 1993 but continued working at CAH wherein 1990 he had started working in ER and surgery. He retired from CAH after 20 years when he became ill with lung disease.

Along with his love for family, music, teaching, and high school sports, Ben was a very active member of the Carlinville Church of the Nazarene. From 1962 until it closed in 2017, he held several offices within the church as well as playing organ and piano. He also served as director of Laymen’s Retreat held at Nazarene Acres in Mechanicsburg, Illinois. Ben was an active member of many organizations including TPA, a fraternal organization that promotes child safety and helps the deaf. He was also very active in the American Legion holding all officer positions over the years. He supported and promoted Premier Boy State as a counselor and board member for 52 years.

Several of his favorite activities were giving tours of the historic Macoupin County Courthouse, showing off his Sears Catalogue home, and participating in a medical mission trip to Ghana West Africa in 1999 with the International Health and Development Network out of Springfield with his eldest son. He helped in a medical clinic seeing over 300 patients and taught CPR. He was able to take an Honor Flight trip to Washington DC in 2015. He lived for yard sales and trips to the family farm where he loved to walk in the woods and spend quality time with his family. Ben will be missed and remembered by family and friends.

Ben was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Delbert, Dwight, and Carroll; and sister, Kathryn Schaffer.

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Ben is survived by his wife, Mary of Carlinville; sons, Jerry (Lorraine) Strode of Springfield and Lyndell (Lynette) Strode of Springfield; daughter, Dorothy “Dotti” (Ed) Robinson of Springfield; grandchildren, Brandon Strode, Britney Porter, Jennifer Morgan, Michael Strode, Allen Jones, Tim Jones, Edward , Jaime and Jill Robinson; and several great-grandchildren; brother, Phillip (Rowena) Strode of Texas; several nieces and nephews; and Lillie his dog and companion and multiple grand dogs.

Memorial services will be held at a later date. Memorials may be made to Central Illinois Food Bank or Virden Church of the Nazarene. Davis Anderson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

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