Ben Lincoln Morton

Ben Lincoln Morton passed away at his assisted-living home in Lakeway, TX, on September 15, 2023, just a couple of weeks short of his ninety-eighth birthday. Ben was born in Thomas, Oklahoma, and grew up in Enid, Oklahoma. In 1943, through the wartime Navy V-12 program, he began engineering studies at the University of Oklahoma (OU); he completed his studies at the University of Colorado (CU), graduating with a BS degree in civil engineering in 1946. While at CU, Ben was elected to Tau Beta Phi and Chi Epsilon, national engineering and civil engineering honor societies. He later returned to OU, where in 1955 he received an MBA with emphasis in accounting and business management. In addition to active duty in the V-12 program, Ben's military service included assignments on the light cruiser USS Columbia (CL-56) in 1946 and the attack transport ship USS Cavalier (APA-37), which landed General Craig and the lead elements of his First Marine Brigade at the invasion of Inchon, South Korea, in 1950; he also participated in an administrative landing at Wonsan, North Korea, in 1950. Subsequently, he was assigned as a liaison officer with a Marine unit, 1st Anglico. He later was promoted to Lieutenant in the Navy. Ben's professional career started off in Denver in 1946 at Crocker & Ryan, a consulting civil engineering firm. In 1947, he joined Cities Service Oil Company, where he worked for several years as an engineer at its Ponca City, Oklahoma, refinery. He began his 30-year Exxon career in 1955, first with Humble Oil and Refining Company in Houston, Texas. Over the years, Ben also worked for four other Exxon companies in various capacities of increasing responsibility in the areas of accounting, finance, and operations. His work took him on business trips to several locations around the world. When Exxon transferred him to its New York City and then London offices, he and his young family relocated to New Jersey (two years) followed by Surrey, England (five years). He finished up his career in Houston. Over his lifetime, Ben enjoyed several hobbies and other activities, among them, creating latch-hook rugs and wall hangings, making his own picture frames, taking photos, swimming in neighborhood pools in the summer, traveling (often with tour groups), and attending Methodist church. On a volunteer basis, he provided accounting-related and budgetary assistance for his churches from time to time as well as, after his retirement, for the Retina Research Foundation of Houston, where he also served on the Board of Advisory Trustees. Ben was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 66 years, Joan, and a grandson. He is survived by a son, two daughters, a grandson, and two granddaughters. A small, informal gravesite service for the immediate family will be held at Memorial Oaks Cemetery in Houston.

Ben Lincoln Morton

September 28, 1925 - September 15, 2023