Ben Seward

Ben Butler Seward, a native of Jackson and long-time resident of Dyer, died Sunday in Baton Rouge, La. He was 94. Mr. Seward and his wife, Mary Ewell Seward, moved from Dyer to St. James Retirement Center in Baton Rouge to be close to family five years ago. Visitation will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, followed by funeral services at 11 a.m., at Dyer Presbyterian Church. Interment will follow in Oakwood Cemetery of Dyer, Tennessee. There will be memorial services at St. James on Sunday at 3 p.m. Mr. Seward was born in 1921 in Jackson, Tenn. He attended Jackson public schools and graduated from high school there. He then attended the University of Tennessee, where he earned a degree in business and was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. Mr. Seward served in the U.S. Army prior to and during World War II. He was a member of a Jackson unit of the Tennessee National Guard when it was activated and federalized in 1940. He served in Europe and Africa as an infantry officer with the 3rd Infantry Division and participated in the invasions of North Africa, Sicily, Italy, Anzio and Southern France. He was released from active duty at the conclusion of World War II with the rank of captain. He rejoined the National Guard and served until his retirement with the rank of lieutenant colonel with 26 years of service. In 1963 Mr. Seward and his family moved to Dyer, where he served as a partner at Dyer Fruit Box Manufacturing Co. until his retirement in 1987. In Dyer, Mr. Seward was a deacon and Sunday School teacher at Dyer First Baptist Church. He and Mary later joined Dyer Presbyterian Church. Mr. Seward was active in community affairs and served on various boards and committees. His favorite hobby was golf, which he enjoyed playing with his wife and many friends. Mr. Seward is survived by his wife of 65 years, Mary, of Baton Rouge; his daughter Lallah and husband Chip, of Baton Rouge, and their two children Bill Weimar and wife Caroline and Mary Kate Weimar, all of Atlanta, Ga.; daughter Pat and husband Jack, of San Marcos, Texas, and their sons, Thomas, of Austin, Texas, and Ben Flanders and wife Laura of Yucca Valley, Calif.; and daughter Sena Bolton of Atlanta, Ga., and her two daughters, Lauren Benson and husband Chad of Eagle, Colo., and Candace and husband Stephen Piepgrass of Richmond, Va. His is also survived by seven great-grandchildren. Karnes & Son Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Mr. Ben Seward.