Henry Bennett "Ben" Drexler, 82, of Orlando, beloved husband, brother, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away at home on July 3, 2015.
A Celebration of Ben's Life will be held at 2:00 p.m. at Woodlawn Funeral Home in Gotha, Florida, Tuesday, July 7, 2015. The family will receive friends Tuesday, July 7, 2015 from 1:00 p.m. until the hour of the service at Woodlawn Funeral Home in Gotha, Florida. A graveside funeral service will be held at 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 8, 2015 at Oak Ridge Cemetery. The family will receive friends Wednesday, July 8, 2015, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Ben was born November 1, 1932 in Tifton to the late George Henry and Martha Jane Fletcher Drexler. He was the eldest of eight children. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from North Georgia College in 1953 before serving two years as a 1st Lieutenant in the United States Army. Ben moved to Orlando, Florida in 1959, where he worked as a Microelectronics Engineer for Lockheed Martin for 49 years. He received his Master of Science degree in Physics from Rollins College in 1972. Since his retirement, Ben has been active in the Lockheed Martin retirees' club, REALM, serving as President for the past three years. He was a regular bridge player, a voracious reader, and a frequent judge at local science fairs. He loved to dance and was rarely seen without a crossword puzzle in this pocket.
Ben was predeceased by his first wife, Janet Roper Drexler; his sisters, Rita Drexler and Martha Drexler; and brothers, Jackson Stanley Drexler, Albert Michael Drexler, and Paul Gregory Drexler.
Ben is survived by his loving wife of 23 years, Clarice Cox Drexler of Orlando, Florida; brothers and their wives, Charles and Sally Drexler of Tifton and Mark and Jan Drexler of Calhoun, California; sisters-in-law and their husbands, Shirley and Stanley Drexler, Wylene and Albert Drexler, and Sandy and Greg Drexler; son and daughter-in-law, Steven George and Francene Drexler of Birmingham, Alabama; daughters and their husband, Lisa Kay Tracy of Orlando, Florida and Susan Leigh and Richard Franzen of Davenport, Florida; step-son and his wife, Zeke and Darcie Williams of Saint Augustine, Florida; and step-daughter, Lou Lizzette Williams of Bunnell, Florida. "Papa" is survived by loving grandchildren and their spouses, Lindsey Riane Drexler, Sarah Frances Drexler, and Ryan Patrick Woodburn of Birmingham, Alabama; Christine Janet Woodburn of Asheville, North Carolina; Heather Leigh and Victor Dudding of Winter Haven, Florida; Jacinta Jane Franzen and Richard Joseph Franzen, Jr. of Davenport, Florida; Ezekiel Dunn Williams and Casey Ann Williams of Saint Augustine, Florida; and Olivia Grace and Blake Holcombe of Valrico, Florida. "Papa" also leaves behind loving great-grandchildren, Emma Alie Dudding and Ella Hayden Dudding of Winter Haven, Florida and Zeke Dunn Williams IV of Saint Augustine, Florida; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made in Ben's name to the University of North Georgia, UNG Foundation, P.O. Box 1599, Dahlonega, GA 30533.