Benjamin Smart Jr.

Benjamin HarrisonSmart Jr. was born on Nov. 12, 1922,
at the family farm in rural Grant Township, Mo. He died at his
home in College Place on May 20, 2016, at the age of
93. Ben was the fourth of 11 children born to Benjamin
Harrison Smart Sr. and Clara Marie Barton
Smart. He weighed only 2 pounds at birth due to his
premature arrival, and his mother kept him warm by
placing him in a shoebox placed on the open oven door
of a wood-burning stove. His precarious start in life
provided him with the determination and strength to
overcome all obstacles, including a congenital hip defect
that caused him much pain throughout his life.
He never let that prevent him from climbing up and
down steep hills in pursuit of quail and chukar.
Ben never went beyond the ninth grade in his formal
schooling, but later earned his GED as an adult. As a
young man he headed west to Idaho, where he worked
on a sheep farm. During World War II he served as
an Army corpsman at Fort Berkeley, Texas. His hip
condition prevented him from active war service.
He eventually returned to Missouri, where he married
Arlene Mae Young in 1945, later moving west
again to settle in Richland. For many years he worked
for various Hanford contractors as a laborer, in site
security and finally as a power operator.
He also loved to bowl and play baseball and played on
a semi-pro baseball team with Gene Conley, who went
on to play in the majors.
He was an avid fisherman and shared his love of
hunting with his son, Dan, with whom he hunted for
many years until no longer physically able.
Three sons were born to his marriage with Arlene:
Michael Allen, Danny Lee (Cynthia), and Earl Dean.
After 29 years of marriage he and Arlene divorced.
Ben began a new life in 1974 when he married Sandra
(nee Coombs), whom he met while working at
Hanford. Three step-children were part of the family
— Tammy A. Martine (who was loved as his own),
Debby Sanders and Tracy Boosinger.
Ben and Sandra shared a wonderful life together.
They loved and laughed and lived! Ben taught Sandra
how to fish and they brought home lots of trout,
bass, bluegill and burlap bags of perch. They enjoyed
deer hunting and trips to the Oregon coast and Reno.
Every 18 months to two years they traveled back to
Missouri to visit Ben’s family. Each time they went
a different circuitous route, exploring more of our
beautiful country.
Ben loved gardening. He often wandered through
the yard in winter time, anticipating what he would
plant come spring. He always planted a huge garden
and took pleasure in bringing home bags of produce
gleaned after the fields or orchards were harvested,
sharing freely with friends, family and neighbors.
Ben retired from Hanford in 1985, and Sandra quit
the same day so they could enjoy their retirement together.
Several years ago, Ben and Sandra discovered
Adventure Tours owned by Kathy and Dave Ruble.
They had a wonderful time traveling on many tours
with them and gained a new “family” of fellow travelers
on the bus. When Ben was no longer able to travel,
he enjoyed watching sports on television, especially
baseball.
Ben was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers,
Bob, Glen, Gilford, Harold and Arnold Smart;
and his sister, Dorotha Rinehart. He is survived by
Sandra Smart, his wife of 42 years; his brothers,
James and Ralph Smart; and sisters, Berthena Wimberly
and Ruth Hopkins; his six children, 12 grandchildren,
and 18 great-grandchildren.
At his request, there will be no memorial service,
but for any who wish, contributions may be made to
the Special Needs Fund of the Providence St. Mary’s
Cancer Center in Walla Walla.
He was a hard-headed Irishman from Missouri —
but he loved and was loved by those who mattered.
He will be missed every minute of every day!