Benjamin D Gleason, Jr.

Homer, LA- A visitation with family to honor Benjamin Durelle Gleason, Jr. will be held Sunday, December 21, from 3:00-5:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Arcadia, 1680 1^st St. There will be a funeral service held on Monday, December 22, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. in the Rose-Neath Funeral Home Chapel in Arcadia, followed by burial in the family plot of Bear Creek Cemetery. Ben Gleason was born on March 12, 1924 in Evergreen, LA to Benjamin Durelle Gleason and Thelma Clement Gleason. He went to be with his Lord on December 17, 2014 at the age of 90, after a long illness. Ben grew up in Minden, LA and graduated from Minden High School where he was active in football and band. He went on to LSU on a football scholarship. WWII interrupted his education and football career, as he served his country in the Army Signal Corp in New Guinea and the Philippines. On his way home from war, Ben contracted malaria, and was sidelined from football, but he did go on and graduate from LSU with a degree in accounting in 1949. He began work in Minden with the Minden Bank and Trust, and then moved to Shreveport where he met his wife to be, Joan Loe. They were married in 1958. Gleason worked in Shreveport for United Gas (later to become Pennzoil) for 30 years. When Pennzoil moved to Houston, Ben chose to keep his family in Shreveport, and began work at M.L. Bath as comptroller until his retirement. He worked with his wife's family property in Bienville Parish and, together, Ben and Joan shared the honor of Tree Farmer of the Year in 1996, given by the Louisiana Tree Farmer Association. Ben, along with wife Joan, were charter members at Christ United Methodist Church in Shreveport and at his time of death was a member of Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church in Homer, LA. He loved to sing in church. He enjoyed a life of gardening, hunting, fishing and bird watching. He helped to instill a love and respect for God's creation to his children and grandchildren. He also loved to listen to all the talk after a hunt, while sitting on the porch of the hunting camp, drinking a cup of coffee. Ben was an avid LSU football fan. He is now in heaven, which must be, for him, sitting on the 50 yard line in Tiger Stadium. He is preceded in death by his parents, Benjamin and Thelma Gleason, sister Gladys G. Whitman and brother David Gleason. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Joan Loe Gleason of Homer, LA; daughter Cindy Gleason Johnson and husband Neil of Shreveport; sons, Steve Gleason and wife Libby of West Monroe and Danny Gleason and wife Beth of Benton; grandchildren, Sara Corzine, Mary Gleason, Ben Gleason, Andrew Gleason, Matthew Gleason, Bradford Johnson and Hannah Johnson; brother-In-law (who was like brother) James Loe and wife Robbie; devoted caregiver Denise Dew; Mary Gleason (sister-in law); L.E. & Mary Nell White (brother-in-law and sister-in-law) and numerous nephews and nieces. Pallbearers: Ken Barefield, Kyle Barefield, Kane Finkbeiner, Andrew Gleason, Ben Gleason, Bob Gleason, Matthew Gleason and Charles Slavin. Honorary Pallbearers: Lee Finkbeiner, James Loe, Gary Smith, and Robert Washington The family suggests memorials may be sent to Centenary College, 2911 Centenary Blvd., Shreveport, LA 71104, or to Wesley Chapel UMC, 3647 LA 146, Homer, LA 71040.