Benjamin Franklin Giles, Jr. passed away peacefully at home on July 11, 2023.
Ben was born September 7, 1924 in Dallas, Texas, 4th child of eight in his family. He grew up most of his life on the family farm near Chambersville, Texas.
He was drafted into the army in March 1943 following his 18th birthday. He had completed his first semester of college. Because of his college experience and skills, he was selected to serve at headquarters of the 9th army in World War II in the European theatre.
Ben realized early in life that education was the key to success and instilled that philosophy to friends and family.
After the war was over and he was discharged, he returned to North Texas University where, by taking on night jobs to pay for his room, board and tuition, he earned a B.S. in mathematics. He was the first of his family to obtain a college degree.
In 1948, he married Lanell Rue Giles, who became his wife of over 75. In the same year took a job working with a seismic crew for a small company called Geophysical Service, Inc (GSI) [which ultimately became Texas Instruments]. As Chief geophysicist at GSI, Ben and Lanell traveled to various sites from California to Louisiana with their house trailer. They settled in University Park where they lived for over 40 years before moving to McKinney (to escape traffic!).
Using benefits for veterans of WWII, he was able to purchase a small farm for his mother and younger siblings to live after the ancestral farmhouse burned the farm had to be divided amongst the many heirs.
As a pioneer in oil exploration, Ben had a distinguished career as an Exploration Geophysicist, rising through the ranks to become Chief Geophysicist for the Western Hemisphere and then Chief Geophysicist for Worldwide Marine Operations. In 1972, he was elected to be President of the Dallas Geophysical Society which subsequently named him as an Honorary Life Member. In 1978-1979, he served as the 2nd Vice President for the Society of Exploration Geophysicists.
In 1998, he was awarded the prestigious Reginald Fessenden Award for his early work with airgun technology. His work provided the framework from which the industry accelerated the switch from using explosive sources for offshore seismic work to the use of the environmentally friendly airgun source.
In the course of his career, he traveled to every continent, except Antarctic. His wife joined him on many of these travels and they lived in Singapore in the early 80's, traveling also to China, Thailand and Australia.
In 1998, Ben moved to McKinney, closer to the farm he had bought so he could grow his annual garden. He dabbled in geneology and accumulated a large database tracing his ancestry all the way back to the Mayflower.
He was a loving husband and devoted father. He is survived by his wife, Lanell Rue Giles, daughter Penny Giles (and spouse Skip Wilson) and son John Giles (and spouse Angie Giles), five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Chambersville Cemetery Association c/o Don Bourland, Secretary/Treasurer, 7729 County Road 202, McKinney, TX 75071
Ben was born September 7, 1924 in Dallas, Texas, 4th child of eight in his family. He grew up most of his life on the family farm near Chambersville, Texas.
He was drafted into the army in March 1943 following his 18th birthday. He had completed his first semester of college. Because of his college experience and skills, he was selected to serve at headquarters of the 9th army in World War II in the European theatre.
Ben realized early in life that education was the key to success and instilled that philosophy to friends and family.
After the war was over and he was discharged, he returned to North Texas University where, by taking on night jobs to pay for his room, board and tuition, he earned a B.S. in mathematics. He was the first of his family to obtain a college degree.
In 1948, he married Lanell Rue Giles, who became his wife of over 75. In the same year took a job working with a seismic crew for a small company called Geophysical Service, Inc (GSI) [which ultimately became Texas Instruments]. As Chief geophysicist at GSI, Ben and Lanell traveled to various sites from California to Louisiana with their house trailer. They settled in University Park where they lived for over 40 years before moving to McKinney (to escape traffic!).
Using benefits for veterans of WWII, he was able to purchase a small farm for his mother and younger siblings to live after the ancestral farmhouse burned the farm had to be divided amongst the many heirs.
As a pioneer in oil exploration, Ben had a distinguished career as an Exploration Geophysicist, rising through the ranks to become Chief Geophysicist for the Western Hemisphere and then Chief Geophysicist for Worldwide Marine Operations. In 1972, he was elected to be President of the Dallas Geophysical Society which subsequently named him as an Honorary Life Member. In 1978-1979, he served as the 2nd Vice President for the Society of Exploration Geophysicists.
In 1998, he was awarded the prestigious Reginald Fessenden Award for his early work with airgun technology. His work provided the framework from which the industry accelerated the switch from using explosive sources for offshore seismic work to the use of the environmentally friendly airgun source.
In the course of his career, he traveled to every continent, except Antarctic. His wife joined him on many of these travels and they lived in Singapore in the early 80's, traveling also to China, Thailand and Australia.
In 1998, Ben moved to McKinney, closer to the farm he had bought so he could grow his annual garden. He dabbled in geneology and accumulated a large database tracing his ancestry all the way back to the Mayflower.
He was a loving husband and devoted father. He is survived by his wife, Lanell Rue Giles, daughter Penny Giles (and spouse Skip Wilson) and son John Giles (and spouse Angie Giles), five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Chambersville Cemetery Association c/o Don Bourland, Secretary/Treasurer, 7729 County Road 202, McKinney, TX 75071
Benjamin Franklin Giles, Jr. passed away peacefully at home on July 11, 2023.
Ben was born September 7, 1924 in Dallas, Texas, 4th child of eight in his family. He grew up most of his life on the family farm near Chambersville, Texas.
He was drafted into the army in March 1943 following his 18th birthday. He had completed his first semester of college. Because of his college experience and skills, he was selected to serve at headquarters of the 9th army in World War II in the European theatre.
Ben realized early in life that education was the key to success and instilled that philosophy to friends and family.
After the war was over and he was discharged, he returned to North Texas University where, by taking on night jobs to pay for his room, board and tuition, he earned a B.S. in mathematics. He was the first of his family to obtain a college degree.
In 1948, he married Lanell Rue Giles, who became his wife of over 75. In the same year took a job working with a seismic crew for a small company called Geophysical Service, Inc (GSI) [which ultimately became Texas Instruments]. As Chief geophysicist at GSI, Ben and Lanell traveled to various sites from California to Louisiana with their house trailer. They settled in University Park where they lived for over 40 years before moving to McKinney (to escape traffic!).
Using benefits for veterans of WWII, he was able to purchase a small farm for his mother and younger siblings to live after the ancestral farmhouse burned the farm had to be divided amongst the many heirs.
As a pioneer in oil exploration, Ben had a distinguished career as an Exploration Geophysicist, rising through the ranks to become Chief Geophysicist for the Western Hemisphere and then Chief Geophysicist for Worldwide Marine Operations. In 1972, he was elected to be President of the Dallas Geophysical Society which subsequently named him as an Honorary Life Member. In 1978-1979, he served as the 2nd Vice President for the Society of Exploration Geophysicists.
In 1998, he was awarded the prestigious Reginald Fessenden Award for his early work with airgun technology. His work provided the framework from which the industry accelerated the switch from using explosive sources for offshore seismic work to the use of the environmentally friendly airgun source.
In the course of his career, he traveled to every continent, except Antarctic. His wife joined him on many of these travels and they lived in Singapore in the early 80's, traveling also to China, Thailand and Australia.
In 1998, Ben moved to McKinney, closer to the farm he had bought so he could grow his annual garden. He dabbled in geneology and accumulated a large database tracing his ancestry all the way back to the Mayflower.
He was a loving husband and devoted father. He is survived by his wife, Lanell Rue Giles, daughter Penny Giles (and spouse Skip Wilson) and son John Giles (and spouse Angie Giles), five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Chambersville Cemetery Association c/o Don Bourland, Secretary/Treasurer, 7729 County Road 202, McKinney, TX 75071
Ben was born September 7, 1924 in Dallas, Texas, 4th child of eight in his family. He grew up most of his life on the family farm near Chambersville, Texas.
He was drafted into the army in March 1943 following his 18th birthday. He had completed his first semester of college. Because of his college experience and skills, he was selected to serve at headquarters of the 9th army in World War II in the European theatre.
Ben realized early in life that education was the key to success and instilled that philosophy to friends and family.
After the war was over and he was discharged, he returned to North Texas University where, by taking on night jobs to pay for his room, board and tuition, he earned a B.S. in mathematics. He was the first of his family to obtain a college degree.
In 1948, he married Lanell Rue Giles, who became his wife of over 75. In the same year took a job working with a seismic crew for a small company called Geophysical Service, Inc (GSI) [which ultimately became Texas Instruments]. As Chief geophysicist at GSI, Ben and Lanell traveled to various sites from California to Louisiana with their house trailer. They settled in University Park where they lived for over 40 years before moving to McKinney (to escape traffic!).
Using benefits for veterans of WWII, he was able to purchase a small farm for his mother and younger siblings to live after the ancestral farmhouse burned the farm had to be divided amongst the many heirs.
As a pioneer in oil exploration, Ben had a distinguished career as an Exploration Geophysicist, rising through the ranks to become Chief Geophysicist for the Western Hemisphere and then Chief Geophysicist for Worldwide Marine Operations. In 1972, he was elected to be President of the Dallas Geophysical Society which subsequently named him as an Honorary Life Member. In 1978-1979, he served as the 2nd Vice President for the Society of Exploration Geophysicists.
In 1998, he was awarded the prestigious Reginald Fessenden Award for his early work with airgun technology. His work provided the framework from which the industry accelerated the switch from using explosive sources for offshore seismic work to the use of the environmentally friendly airgun source.
In the course of his career, he traveled to every continent, except Antarctic. His wife joined him on many of these travels and they lived in Singapore in the early 80's, traveling also to China, Thailand and Australia.
In 1998, Ben moved to McKinney, closer to the farm he had bought so he could grow his annual garden. He dabbled in geneology and accumulated a large database tracing his ancestry all the way back to the Mayflower.
He was a loving husband and devoted father. He is survived by his wife, Lanell Rue Giles, daughter Penny Giles (and spouse Skip Wilson) and son John Giles (and spouse Angie Giles), five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Chambersville Cemetery Association c/o Don Bourland, Secretary/Treasurer, 7729 County Road 202, McKinney, TX 75071
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