HUDSON - Benjamin George Marion Ammons passed away on July 17, 2026, at the age of 91.

Ben was born in Fairview, West Virginia, to Benjamin Washington Ammons and Lelia Mae Ammons. The family moved to Akron in 1944, and Akron became his lifelong home. At Garfield High School, he served as senior class president and student conductor of the orchestra, early signs of the leadership qualities that would define his life.

It will come as no surprise that he was an Eagle Scout. He earned every merit badge Scouting offered, received the Order of the Arrow, and was recognized as the outstanding Boy Scout among all Goodyear troops worldwide. Scouting shaped his character, and he spent decades giving back to the organization, including founding a Scout troop while stationed at an Air Force base years later.

Ben graduated from the University of Akron in 1958 with a degree in mechanical engineering, serving as president of his graduating class and Wing Commander of the Air Force ROTC. He earned his MBA from Purdue University in 1959, where, in a move that perfectly captured his entrepreneurial spirit, he started a business delivering birthday cakes to students whose parents wanted to surprise their children at school. He had a gift for seeing opportunities - not simply to build a business, but to make someone’s day a little brighter.

He served in the United States Air Force from 1958 to 1962 at Charleston Air Force Base and Kindley Air Force Base in Bermuda, where he established youth athletic and Little League programs for military families. He was honorably discharged as a Captain and returned to Akron to begin work as a Registered Professional Engineer.

Dad built his career in the industry that built his hometown. Beginning at B.F. Goodrich, he went on to hold senior executive positions there and at Carlisle Tire & Rubber and Firestone. He approached business the same way he approached life, with integrity, curiosity, optimism, and an uncommon ability to bring people together to solve difficult problems.

Retirement simply marked the beginning of another chapter. He served on the boards of numerous companies spanning manufacturing, technology, healthcare, building products, and consumer products. He loved building organizations, mentoring leaders, and helping businesses navigate their next chapter. His greatest investment was always in people.

That commitment was reflected in a lifetime of service. Named Outstanding Young Man of Akron in 1969 and one of Ohio’s Ten Outstanding Young Men the same year, he became a founding board member and president of Big Brothers of Akron and served for thirty years on the national board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. He chaired the University of Akron Board of Trustees, led the Akron Jaycees, and helped establish institutions that continue to shape Northeast Ohio, including the John S. Knight Center, NEOMED, Junior Achievement of Akron, and the World Series of Golf. His service also included leadership and support of the Akron Art Museum, the Ohio Ballet, United Way, and many other organizations dedicated to strengthening the community.

Ben’s faith was the foundation that lay beneath it all. At Christ Community Chapel, he served as a deacon, participated in local outreach and South Street Ministry, provided financial counseling to families, and served on the church’s grief ministry. He studied the Bible daily and loved attending and teaching Bible study groups. He delighted in learning and living what he learned.

The center of his life was always family. He met his sweetheart Shirley on the playground in fourth grade. Together they built a life marked by faith, partnership, and love. She was his greatest cheerleader and he was her rock. He is survived by his beloved daughters, Heather and Erin; his sons-in-law, Jason and Steve; and his three grandchildren, Kate, Erik, and Faith, who brought him immeasurable joy and pride. He was preceded in death by Shirley.

Dad’s life is reflected in the family he loved the people he mentored, the organizations he strengthened, and the countless people whose lives were touched by his kindness. It is a legacy that will continue long after his passing.

“Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”

Dr. Joe Coffey will officiate service 11 AM Monday, July 27, 2026, at Christ Community Chapel, 750 W Streetsboro Street, Hudson, OH 44236. Friends may call 3 PM to 5 PM, Sunday, July 26, 2026, at Redmon Funeral Home, 3633 Darrow Road, Stow, OH 44224. Burial Markillie Cemetery in Hudson.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Big Brothers Big Sisters, an organization that reflected Dad’s lifelong belief that every child deserves someone who believes in them. Donations may be mailed to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Attn: Individual Giving 2502 N. Rocky Point Drive, Suite 100, Tampa, FL 33607.