Obituary for Benjamin E Fitzgerald
Deacon Benjamin Hugo Fitzgerald (Ben) was born November 28, 1933 in Blackstone, Virginia to the late Emmett and Lillie Johnson Fitzgerald. He had four sisters and three brothers. He departed this life Thursday, March 8th, 2012 in Saint Frances Hospital.
Deacon Fitzgerald accepted Christ, our Lord and Savior, at an early age. He was an active and faithful member of the Mount Olive Baptist Church in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania. He served as a deacon, trustee, and Sunday school teacher for many years. He later served in the same capacities at Poplar Lawn Baptist Church.
Benjamin married Thelma Wilson on October 27, 1957. They relocated to Coraopolis, Pennsylvania after their union. Their only child, Stephanie, was born the following year. At the time, he was the manager of the United States Army Post Exchange in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Ben was an industrious worker even before he married. He began his army career in 1955 as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division. He was honorably discharged in March 1963.
Benjamin had a full and Blessed life. He began a distinguished 22 year career with The Prudential Insurance Company of America in 1967 as a sales associate. He was later promoted to the position of Development manager with the Western Pennsylvania Agency of Prudential. His career was blessed with achievement, sales, and service awards. In 1973 he achieved the Prudential Million Dollar Round Table Award for insurance sales totaling a million plus. From 1984 to the year of his retirement he received National Quality Service Awards, Life Underwriting Training Awards, and National Association of Life Underwriting Awards. In 1981, Prudential awarded him the MacNaughton Community Leadership award for his service in the Kiwanis service Club of Coraopolis. In 1988 He was one of the first recipients of the Prudential Quality service Leadership Award. Benjamin also, received Prudential Community Shining Star Awards which contributed monetary support to the service organization of his choice from 1998 to 2006.
Benjamin led a selfless life of service in other endeavors, as well. In the 1970’s, he volunteered with The Guild for the Blind. He was also, the Chair of the Public Relations Committee and served on the Interclub Relations, Membership, and Development Committee. He was involved in the renewal of the central business district of Coraopolis as a member of the Board of Directors of the Coraopolis Economic Revitalization Corporation. Additionally, he held the position of Director of the Coraopolis Area Community Center, which provided services for low-income youth and elderly. Finally, he was an elected councilman from 1980 through 1990.
Benjamin and Thelma moved back to Blackstone, in 1991. Even in retirement, Ben continued his service to others. He was active for over 2o years in Habitat for Humanity. He was the vice president of the Nottoway Civic league of Blackstone, Virginia and a member of the Giddeons.
Benjamin did all the good he could, in all the ways he could
For all the people he could, While he could.
Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Thelma Wilson Fitzgerald, daughter, Stephanie Fitzgerald Talley of Silver Spring, Maryland, grandchildren: Mariah Francesca and Caleb Emmanuel Talley of Silver Spring, Maryland, mother-in-law, Irene Parker of Norfolk, Virginia, brother, Emmett Fitzgerald of Roanoke, Virginia, sister-in-laws Vanessa M. Ridley of Norfolk, Virginia, Carolyn Wilson of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, and Inez Parker of Chesapeake, Virginia, brothers-in-law, Willie Wynn, Sr. of Washington, D.C. and Thomas L. Parker of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Dudley Ridley, Sr. of Norfolk, Virginia, God-child, Nia Stanley of Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends among them special friends Glenn and Karen Minor, Clint and Mabel Hawkes, Benjamin and Betty Perry, and Sally Rich.
Funeral Services Wednesday, March 14, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. at Poplar Lawn Baptist Church, Blackstone with interment in the church cemetery.
W.E. Hawkes & Son Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
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Deacon Fitzgerald accepted Christ, our Lord and Savior, at an early age. He was an active and faithful member of the Mount Olive Baptist Church in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania. He served as a deacon, trustee, and Sunday school teacher for many years. He later served in the same capacities at Poplar Lawn Baptist Church.
Benjamin married Thelma Wilson on October 27, 1957. They relocated to Coraopolis, Pennsylvania after their union. Their only child, Stephanie, was born the following year. At the time, he was the manager of the United States Army Post Exchange in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Ben was an industrious worker even before he married. He began his army career in 1955 as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division. He was honorably discharged in March 1963.
Benjamin had a full and Blessed life. He began a distinguished 22 year career with The Prudential Insurance Company of America in 1967 as a sales associate. He was later promoted to the position of Development manager with the Western Pennsylvania Agency of Prudential. His career was blessed with achievement, sales, and service awards. In 1973 he achieved the Prudential Million Dollar Round Table Award for insurance sales totaling a million plus. From 1984 to the year of his retirement he received National Quality Service Awards, Life Underwriting Training Awards, and National Association of Life Underwriting Awards. In 1981, Prudential awarded him the MacNaughton Community Leadership award for his service in the Kiwanis service Club of Coraopolis. In 1988 He was one of the first recipients of the Prudential Quality service Leadership Award. Benjamin also, received Prudential Community Shining Star Awards which contributed monetary support to the service organization of his choice from 1998 to 2006.
Benjamin led a selfless life of service in other endeavors, as well. In the 1970’s, he volunteered with The Guild for the Blind. He was also, the Chair of the Public Relations Committee and served on the Interclub Relations, Membership, and Development Committee. He was involved in the renewal of the central business district of Coraopolis as a member of the Board of Directors of the Coraopolis Economic Revitalization Corporation. Additionally, he held the position of Director of the Coraopolis Area Community Center, which provided services for low-income youth and elderly. Finally, he was an elected councilman from 1980 through 1990.
Benjamin and Thelma moved back to Blackstone, in 1991. Even in retirement, Ben continued his service to others. He was active for over 2o years in Habitat for Humanity. He was the vice president of the Nottoway Civic league of Blackstone, Virginia and a member of the Giddeons.
Benjamin did all the good he could, in all the ways he could
For all the people he could, While he could.
Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Thelma Wilson Fitzgerald, daughter, Stephanie Fitzgerald Talley of Silver Spring, Maryland, grandchildren: Mariah Francesca and Caleb Emmanuel Talley of Silver Spring, Maryland, mother-in-law, Irene Parker of Norfolk, Virginia, brother, Emmett Fitzgerald of Roanoke, Virginia, sister-in-laws Vanessa M. Ridley of Norfolk, Virginia, Carolyn Wilson of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, and Inez Parker of Chesapeake, Virginia, brothers-in-law, Willie Wynn, Sr. of Washington, D.C. and Thomas L. Parker of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Dudley Ridley, Sr. of Norfolk, Virginia, God-child, Nia Stanley of Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends among them special friends Glenn and Karen Minor, Clint and Mabel Hawkes, Benjamin and Betty Perry, and Sally Rich.
Funeral Services Wednesday, March 14, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. at Poplar Lawn Baptist Church, Blackstone with interment in the church cemetery.
W.E. Hawkes & Son Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
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