CLEARY, Ben Carlos Sr., 93, of Richmond, Va., died unexpectedly on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2014, while visiting family in Irmo, S.C. Ben was the son of James Anderson (Pop) and Lillian Evelyn Oliver Cleary. Ben was predeceased by his parents; sister, Ellouise Blanche Cleary Jacques; brother, James Anderson Cleary Jr; and nephew, Herbert Donovan Jacques, Jr. He is survived by his loving wife, Vi Baffone Cleary; his son, Ben Carlos Cleary Jr. and his wife, Catherine, and their son, Alexander, of Mechanicsville. Ben is also survived by his nieces, Christine Jacques Gergely (John) of Newport News and Anne Cleary Noll (Mark); a nephew, James Anderson Cleary III; and grandnieces, Christy Warren (Vince) and Terry Bailey (Dennis) and their families. He is also survived by his special friends, Bob and Kim Rice of Richmond and their family; and Sister Marie Kerns. Ben was very close to Vi's family especially her niece, Pat Bezanson and her children, Shelly Kelly and Jeff Bezanson of South Carolina. Ben was born on September 5, 1921 in Louisville, Ky., where his father served as a field artillery officer in the U.S. Army. He grew up in Newport News, Va. Ben was an outstanding athlete for the Newport News High School Typhoons. He is honored in the Lower Virginia Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame as the only high school football player to have been on the Virginia All-State Football Team as both an offensive and a defensive player. The Daily Press recognized him in 1993 on its all-time high school Dream Team as a running back. His love of football extended to his lifelong enjoyment of watching the NFL and College teams play. Following in the steps of his father, Ben was an avid golfer and long-time member of the Hermitage Country Club in the Richmond area. He won numerous golfing awards. Ben enlisted in the U.S. Army on February 3, 1941. He attended Officer Candidate School and rose to the rank of Captain. Ben served in the U.S. Army Air Corps in South America and on Ascension Island during WWII. Ben was a patriotic American who loved his country and a staunch Republican who daily followed world events. After his military service, Ben started and managed his successful industrial supply business, Cleary and Company, until his retirement in 1994. A faithful member of Saint Bridget Catholic Church, Ben spent time serving his Lord by daily prayer time and the establishment of a church through the International Co-operating Ministries. Ben loved his family, his extended family and many friends. He especially loved the joy children brought into the world. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, January 2, 2015, at the Parham Chapel of Woody Funeral Home, 1771 N. Parham Rd., Richmond, Va. Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 3, 2015, at Saint Bridget Catholic Church, 6006 Three Chopt Rd., Richmond. Interment Westhampton Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Little Sisters of the Poor, St. Joseph's Home, 1503 Michaels Rd., Richmond, Va. 23229. Condolences at woodyfuneralhomeparham.com.