Ben Edward Wharton

HAMILTON - Ben Edward Wharton passed away Tuesday, July 6, 2010 at the Marcus Daly Hospice and Palliative Care Center in Hamilton. He was born August 8, 1927 in Indianola, Arkansas.

Ben moved to Walnut Creek, California with his family when he was a child. He joined the Merchant Marines at the age of 16. He served his country during World War II in the Asian conflict. After his discharge from the service he met his beautiful wife to be, Lorraine Cordes. They were married September 26, 1948 in Reno, Nevada. Ben and Lorraine lived in Concord, California where they raised their two sons and one daughter. Ben was a truck driver for many years and yet he found time for his love of baseball, coaching his sons' teams to numerous championships. The family has fond memories of Ben leading the family vacations of camping and water skiing adventures on the lakes of Northern California. He retired in the early 1970's and he and Lorraine moved to Albion, California. He spent many of his days with his friends on the ocean, fishing and diving.

In 1983 Ben and Lorraine moved to Hamilton to be closer to their family.

Ben was proud of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, always telling stories about them or asking questions concerning them. Ben was known to always have a good joke or story to tell. He raised race horses while in Hamilton, loved the track, watched NASCAR but you could often find him at a Bitterroot Red Sox game following his love of baseball.

Ben is preceded in death by his wife Lorraine. He is survived by his son Jim Wharton and wife Nancy of Cheney, Washington, his son Don Wharton of Missoula and his daughter Darlynn Curran and husband Gary of Hamilton. His is also survived by grandchildren Beau (Sarah) Starr, Ben (Christie), Lisa (Jamie), Rachael (Scott) Ryan, and great-grandchildren Allan, Christopher and Keven.

In lieu of flowers, donations can by made to the MDMH Hospice Center, the Fox Hollow Animal Project or the Bitterroot Humane Society.

Our family would like to thank the MDMH Hospice Center and Dr. John Courschesne for all their support, kindness, and caring of our father.

We miss you dad and you will forever be in our hearts.