Benoiest Laurents

Benoiest William ?Ben? Laurents, age 94, passed peacefully and with confidence of salvation in Christ on Sunday, September 25, 2011, in his home at the Waterford, after a brief illness. Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, September 29, 2011, at Broadmoor Baptist Church in Shreveport. Officiating will be Dr. Chuck Pourcaiu, Dr. Larry Williams, and Dr. Tom Harrison. The family will receive friends at the church from 10 a.m. until service time. Ben enjoyed a long life and good health throughout some of the most interesting periods of recent history. He was the son of Louis Vinson and Evelyn Green Laurents, born in Lake Arthur, Louisiana on October 29, 1916. Evelyn was a graduate of George Peabody University and a school teacher. Louis was a Louisiana State University graduate and enjoyed being a Mississippi River Boat Captain. Ben attended George Washington University in Washington D.C., then earned a Masters Degree from the U.S. Air War College. His expertise in communication, radio, television, and computers continued to develop throughout his lifetime as those technologies evolved. Ben was a United States Marine, and also worked for the Office of the President, the FCC, and the Immigration Service. He also served with the Border Patrol and lastly was as a civilian analysis at Headquarters 2nd Air Force, Barksdale AFB where he retired. He was a member of the Society of American Military Engineers, was awarded a citation for meritorious service as the Louisiana State MARS director, and was a life member of the Society of Wireless Pioneers. Ben?s amateur radio operator handle was W5JAH (?W5 Just Another Ham?). Ben attended Broadmoor Baptist Church for many years, was an ordained Deacon for over twenty years, and served as a tireless volunteer in the media department. He assisted in the startup of Ellerbe Road Baptist Church. He was raised a Master Mason in Lake Arthur, Louisiana in 1945, and was a member of most York Rite and Scottish Rite Masonic Bodies in the Shreveport/Bossier area as well as the El Karubah Shrine before his retirement when he devoted his full attention to church. Ben married Rena Bourgeois in 1945, and after her death, married Willie Mae Lilley in 1977. In addition to Rena Bourgeois, he was preceded in death by his parents; his children Benoiest William Laurents, Jr., Martha Lilley, and Wheeler Lilley; siblings, Rose Vincent, Granville Laurents, and Omar Laurents. He is survived by his wife Willie Mae Laurents; children, Susan Goodrich, Betty Lilley, Stephen and Rose Lilley, Robert Laurents, and Doug and Kathy Lilley; six grandchildren, five great- grandchildren, three great, great-grandchildren, and his brother, Louis Vinson Laurents, Jr. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that any contributions be made to the American Heart Association, or to the music ministry at Broadmoor Baptist Church. The family wishes to thank all of those who helped them care for Ben.