BEN GANDY, CLASS OF 1962, PASSES AWAY

Ben Gandy, Class of 1962, passed away. His obituary mistakenly says Class of 1963 but Jim Gandy, his brother, confirmed that Ben was in the Class of 1962 after I saw in my MHS graduation lists that he was in Class of 1962 class and found Ben’s senior photo is the 1962 Monongah High Black Diamond yearbook.

 

Jim Gandy, Class of 1964, lives in Gainesville, Florida with wife Linda Lopez Gandy, Class of 1965. Linda is president of the Monongah High Alumni Association and Jim is on the board of that group.

Ben played football at Monongah High. He also was on the seniors team that won the 1962 MHS class tournament in basketball and was on his junior class team when it participated a year earlier.

Jim Gandy told me:

“Some of my memories were growing up in Monongah. Lot of good lessons in life at an early age. Also vacations with our parents and going swimming n Coal Hole,” and I did along with many Monongah High guys and girls.

Coal Hole was SO deep that I NEVER touched bottom, even off the board in the cliff about 30 feet above the water. Coal Hole was created after coal was gouged out of the ground.

If I got poison ivy, which was often, my mother, Lena Futten Olesky, would send me to Coal Hole for a treatment. There was so much Sulphur in the water that it dried up my poison ivy in a few days, every time. It worked better than calamine lotion. And it was free!

Jim has another unforgettable moment:

“We were all up 63 Mine bridge swinging on a pipe rope. It came back, hit me on the eye, cut it and Ben put me on our bike’s handlebars and took me to Dr. Bressler (Consolation Coal’s company doctor) for stitches.

“Ben, me and our friends would go to Mill Dam before Easter every year and skinny dip. Man, was that water cold!”

Bob Skinny Kenney, from Youngstown although he lives in Buford, Georgia after graduating from Youngstown’s Ursuline High and Youngstate State, posted:

“Ben had a strong will to live. No more pain and suffering. He is in a great place now.”

After I asked Bob for more information he replied:

“I met Jim first. We worked at Morgantown Machine together. I met Ben a short time after when he worked for Consol Coal Company. Great family.”

Ben’s obituary:

Benjamin Anthony Gandy

December 30, 1944 - February 8, 2022

Benjamin Anthony Gandy, 77 of Fairmont, passed away on February 8, 2022 at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, WV. He was born December 30, 1944 in Clarksburg, WV, a son of the late Harold R. and Rose Mary Marra Gandy. Ben is survived by his wife of 54 years, Linda L. Wilson Gandy.

Ben was a 1963 graduate of Monongah High School. He served in the U.S. Army and was stationed at Fort Shafter in Honolulu, Hawaii. After his military service, Ben attended Fairmont State College and graduated Cum Laude with a degree in Business and Accounting.

 

Ben retired from Consolidation Coal Company (Consol) with over 35 years of service as a Senior Buyer. He was a member of Gateway United Methodist Church where he had served on the SPRC committee and the United Methodist Men. Ben loved the outdoors, especially trout fishing and hunting.

In addition to his wife, Ben is survived by his son, Benjamin Wilson and his wife Andrea Gandy of Washington, PA, his three grandchildren, Jarrett, Faith, and Kayla Gandy. His brothers, Robert and his wife Margita Gandy of Richmond, VA, and James and his wife Linda Gandy of Gainesville, FL.

The family has entrusted the arrangements to Ford Funeral Home, 201 Columbia Street, Fairmont, WV. Private services will be held within the funeral home with Reverend Jim Zinn officiating. A graveside committal service to follow at Beverly Hills Memorial Gardens in Westover, WV. The Marion County Veterans Council will provide graveside military rites. Online condolences may be made to www.fordfuneralhomes.com .