Bennie Charleton “Ben” Ludlow, 81, of Hillsboro died Tuesday, May 9, 2023, at home, after a brief battle with cancer.
Ben was born July 2, 1941, at Veedersburg. He was the youngest child of Ernest and Flora B. (Romine) Ludlow. He attended Veedersburg High School, where he was known as “Uncle Ben,” a nickname given to him in elementary school by his nephews, who were only a few years younger than he was.
After graduating from VHS, he joined RR Donnelley and Sons in Crawfordsville as a standard time estimator. He worked at Donnelley’s for 43 years as a journeyman proofreader in the 1960s and 1970s, and then as a hoist operator and a bindery machine operator in the 1980s. He retired as a paper buyer in 2002.
Ben was an avid woodworker, making furniture and decorative items for his family, and after a short retirement, he enjoyed working at Hillsboro Hardware. He enjoyed bowling, golf, puzzles, and dancing, and he told some of the best dad jokes ever.
He was someone others depended on. Sometimes, it almost felt like he was waiting with his keys in hand for someone to call and say they needed help with something. Ben Ludlow never met a stranger; everywhere you went with him, you ran into someone who knew him.
In 1984, Ben married the love of his life, Shirley Sharer, whom he met at Donnelley’s. Ben and Shirley had a rare and beautiful love. For nearly 40 years, they were best friends and loving partners. They never said hello or goodbye without also saying “I love you” and sharing a kiss. Even as his health was fading, Ben was calmed and soothed by Shirley’s presence and voice. They shared with one another their enjoyment of the outdoors and their home, a love of music, and a lot of laughter.
Family was very important to Ben. In addition to being a loving husband and partner to Shirley, he was a devoted son and brother, taking care of his mother and sister Pat until their deaths. He was a wonderful, supportive Dad and the kind of Pappaw who could always make the grandchildren and great-grandchildren giggle. He never missed a chance to spend time with his family, and he and Drammaw Shirley attended the kids’ games, performances and contests and cheered for them enthusiastically.
Ben is greatly missed by his beloved wife Shirley; his daughters, Jeannie (Marcus Ricci) Ludlow and Tami (Ray) Czajka; step-daughter Marti Hurt-Foddrill; step-son Robert Hurt II; grandchildren, Zachary Daniel, Cassandra (Tyler) Ratcliff, Dalton (Janie) Czajka, Kaelley Porter Bruce, Aubree Porter, James Foddrill and Michael Hurt; and great-grandchildren, Airazona Ratcliff, Reagan Ratcliff, Paisley Czajka, Alaina Czajka, Ian Bruce and Ember Bruce; as well as many nieces and nephews and their families.
Ben was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Flora; brothers, Wayne (Wanda York) Ludlow and Earl (Doyne Kiger) Ludlow; sisters, Pat (Audrey Reese) Ludlow and Georgia (William) Brown and their spouses; and many beloved extended family members.
Family and friends are invited to celebrate Ben’s life at the Loyal Order of Moose lodge, 402 Waynetown Road, Crawfordsville, at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 27. His family entrusted his arrangements to Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Covington, 420 Third St., Covington, IN 47932.
Please join his family in sharing memories through his tribute wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com.
