Forrest P. 'Ben' Saunders, 92

NORTH CONWAY — Forrest Proctor "Ben" Saunders, 92 of North Conway, New Hampshire, passed away November 1, 2012. He was born, February 17, 1920, and lived his whole life in North Conway. He was the son of Guy and Celia Proctor Saunders. He attended Kennett High School and graduated from Vermont Academy in 1939.

Ben and Ethel Head were married in 1939 and settled in the area. He initially worked with his father-in-law, Cecil Head, in the Head family funeral business. In 1941 he and Ethel founded White Mountain Oil Company, now known as White Mountain Oil & Propane, Inc., based in North Conway. Their business expanded and changed locations over the years arriving at the current headquarters in the village of North Conway in 1954. Gasoline, automotive service and heating oil sales were the first offerings of the new company. Ben's sons, Glenn and Scott, joined him at the firm in the 1960s and by 1980, he had turned over the day to day operation to them. Ben was very proud of his business and always insured that its mission included a strong commitment to his employees and to the community of individuals and businesses it served. He was forever a person with absolute integrity who enjoyed and respected people, personal traits that were responsible for the steady growth of the company in its early years and are the examples and standards that guide the business today. His entrepreneurial enthusiasm resulted in a very successful development partnership, recognized today as Glenwood in Bartlett, NH, with Hamlin Greene, a lifelong friend.

Ben's commitment to his community was significant and varied. He served on the North Conway Park Commission for many years attending to maintenance and regular improvements. He was a member and President of the North Conway Community Center in its very early years. The Lower Bartlett Cemetery Committee was the beneficiary of his guidance and organizational skills. He was a dedicated member of the First Church of Christ Congregational of North Conway.

He served as Sunday school teacher, youth group leader, usher and deacon. Personally and through his business he has always given quiet support to the needs of his Church as well as his community. He was a proud and involved member of the North Conway Rotary Club from his early days in business to his passing.

Ben and his wife Ethel were avid hikers and long-term Appalachian Mountain Club members. They are among a select group of hikers who climbed all the 4,000 footers in New Hampshire. He had a lifelong love of flying, learning to fly from Wylie Apte, Sr. in the 1940s and 1950s. He and Ethel flew to many destinations in the United States and Caribbean, however his true joy was to fly above our local mountains and valleys. On the ground he was an avid gardener of both flowers and vegetables. He and Ethel felt that the most enjoyable room in their home was their greenhouse/sunroom that was always full of beautiful and unique flowers and plants.

Ben's family, in addition to his wife of seventy-three years, includes: daughter Terry and her husband Robert Turcotte, son Scott, deceased, and his wife Carol Saunders, deceased, and son Glenn and his wife Sonnhilde Saunders. The grandchildren are: Heather Turcotte with husband Brian Briggs. Christopher with wife Kathleen Saunders, Katherine Saunders Biddle with husband Samuel Biddle, Gregg and his wife Kate Ellen Saunders, Mark and his wife Kelly Saunders and Kirk and his wife Sarah Saunders. There are twelve great grandchildren.

A celebration of Ben's life will be held on Saturday November 10, 2012 at 2:00 PM at the First Church of Christ Congregational at 2521 White Mountain Highway, North Conway, NH. Visiting hours will be from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Friday, November 9, 2012 at Furber & White Funeral Home at 2925 White Mountain Highway, North Conway, NH. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the First Church of Christ Congregational, PO Box 401, White Mountain Highway, North Conway, NH 03860, or North Conway Library PO Box 409, North Conway, NH 03860.