Written by Kelsey Cornell, Edited by Steven Sanders
By now, many of you probably met one of our new neighbors, Ben Gross, who moved in at the beginning of July. Although he is new to Arbor Terrace, he has lived in Peachtree City for 27 years.
Prior to his time in Georgia, this gentleman also lived in a plethora of other states including North Dakota, North Carolina, and Kentucky. Born in 1930, Ben was the seventh child in a family of 16 on a farm with horses, pigs, sheep, cattle, ducks, geese, and turkeys. As his older brothers were drafted into the war, Ben spent his childhood helping on the farm in lieu of attending high school. He eventually moved into construction and became a Cat operator for four years until he was drafted at the age of 21.
After basic training, Ben was sent to Japan and then to Korea. While overseas, Ben attended night classes to further his education. He learned to type and became a chaplain’s assistant. When he returned home, he lived near his sister in Bismarck, North Dakota, where he worked at a wholesale warehouse. Whilst working, he attended Bismarck Junior College and University of North Dakota. Ben received his Master's Degree in Educational Administration and he eventually became a high school teacher.
Ben married Christina in 1955 on Valentine’s Day. They had eight children, sadly losing two of them at the young ages of 17 and 37. In addition to teaching, he became a High School Principal and also began to sell encyclopedias on the side. Following this career path, he was recruited by the US Department of Labor (DOL) to be an Employment Training Specialist in Atlanta. In 1990 he became an ordained deacon and in 1993 he retired from the US DOL.
Ben is surely the man who has seen and done it all. His story of building a life from the ground up with nothing but tenacity, determination, and willpower is inspiring. He has many wonderful stories to tell. If you happen to see him in the halls, attending our church services and exercise classes, be sure to say hello!
Arbor Terrace Peachtree City is a luxury senior living community offering independent living and personal care in Peachtree City, Georgia. For more information, call us at 770-632-5823.
