Obituary for Bennie Paul Priddy
Bumpus Mills, Tn—Bennie (Ben) Paul Priddy, age 76, passed away February 18, 2019. He is survived by his wife Ann Priddy and son Dale Priddy. Ben was born on April 13, 1942 in Amherst, TX, the son of William E. Priddy and Wilma Priddy.
Ben was raised on the family farm in Amherst Texas, graduated in 1960 and promptly enlisted in the U.S. Army as a private in Military Police Corps and rose to the rank of Sergeant (P). He participated in the Berlin and the Cuban Missile Crisis. Ben was accepted and commissioned as an Infantry 2nd Lieutenant and achieve the rank of Captain of 1st Bn 327th Infantry 101st Airborne Division. In 1977, Ben was commission as Warrant Officer Army Aviator and a member of 163rd Aviation Company and 2/17th Cavalry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell Kentucky.
During his service in the United States Armed Forces Ben earned several medals, including the Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (2nd Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Commendation Medal (2nd Oak Leaf Cluster), Vietnam Service Medal with 3 campaign stars, Combat Infantry Badge, Senior Parachute Badge, Master Aviator Badge, Broken Wing Award and Purple Heart Medal.
Ben has 24 of military service and retired as a Captain. Following his retirement from the Active Army, he was employed under a Department of Defense contract where he managed a crew of twenty-five employees to oversee the fuel management and maintenance for Fort Campbell Army Airfield equipment. Ben also worked as a contractor with 5th group Special Forces Group at Fort Campbell, as an automotive technician and deployed to Iraq for 3 years with the 5th group. He officially retired in 2006. He is a respected member of the masonic lodge: Lineport Lodge #207. The discipline and patriotism Ben learned in the Army never left him, as friends and family will attest.
Ben is preceded in death by his father, William E. Priddy and brother, Darrell L. Priddy. Those left to cherish his memory; are his dear mother, Wilma Priddy of Amherst, TX; his loving wife, Anne (Arnette Lillie); and devoted son Bennie Dale Priddy and wife Kim of Clarksville, TN. He also leaves behind two grandchildren, Austin Priddy and Kaity Priddy. Ben had three adoptive children: Ronnie Priddy, Darrell Priddy and Teresa McGrath (deceased). Siblings include Jimmy Priddy and wife Connie of Highlands Ranch, CO; Joy Simpson and husband, Gilbert of Loranger, LA.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations to be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital in honor of Ben’s request.
Viewing will be held at Anglin Funeral Home in Dover, TN, on Sunday February 24th from 4pm to 6pm with service to follow. A graveside service with military honors will be held at 10 am on Monday, February 25, 2019 at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West, 5817 Fort Campbell Blvd., Hopkinsville, KY.
Ben was raised on the family farm in Amherst Texas, graduated in 1960 and promptly enlisted in the U.S. Army as a private in Military Police Corps and rose to the rank of Sergeant (P). He participated in the Berlin and the Cuban Missile Crisis. Ben was accepted and commissioned as an Infantry 2nd Lieutenant and achieve the rank of Captain of 1st Bn 327th Infantry 101st Airborne Division. In 1977, Ben was commission as Warrant Officer Army Aviator and a member of 163rd Aviation Company and 2/17th Cavalry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell Kentucky.
During his service in the United States Armed Forces Ben earned several medals, including the Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (2nd Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Commendation Medal (2nd Oak Leaf Cluster), Vietnam Service Medal with 3 campaign stars, Combat Infantry Badge, Senior Parachute Badge, Master Aviator Badge, Broken Wing Award and Purple Heart Medal.
Ben has 24 of military service and retired as a Captain. Following his retirement from the Active Army, he was employed under a Department of Defense contract where he managed a crew of twenty-five employees to oversee the fuel management and maintenance for Fort Campbell Army Airfield equipment. Ben also worked as a contractor with 5th group Special Forces Group at Fort Campbell, as an automotive technician and deployed to Iraq for 3 years with the 5th group. He officially retired in 2006. He is a respected member of the masonic lodge: Lineport Lodge #207. The discipline and patriotism Ben learned in the Army never left him, as friends and family will attest.
Ben is preceded in death by his father, William E. Priddy and brother, Darrell L. Priddy. Those left to cherish his memory; are his dear mother, Wilma Priddy of Amherst, TX; his loving wife, Anne (Arnette Lillie); and devoted son Bennie Dale Priddy and wife Kim of Clarksville, TN. He also leaves behind two grandchildren, Austin Priddy and Kaity Priddy. Ben had three adoptive children: Ronnie Priddy, Darrell Priddy and Teresa McGrath (deceased). Siblings include Jimmy Priddy and wife Connie of Highlands Ranch, CO; Joy Simpson and husband, Gilbert of Loranger, LA.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations to be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital in honor of Ben’s request.
Viewing will be held at Anglin Funeral Home in Dover, TN, on Sunday February 24th from 4pm to 6pm with service to follow. A graveside service with military honors will be held at 10 am on Monday, February 25, 2019 at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West, 5817 Fort Campbell Blvd., Hopkinsville, KY.