Ben D. Woody joined the Lord on December 16, 2020.  He was born in Spur, Texas, on March 5, 1931, to Idell and B.P. Woody.  Ben graduated high school, then attended the University of Texas and Midwestern State University.  Ben met and married Betty Brunson of Wichita Falls in 1966.  They were married for 54 years.

Ben was an entrepreneur in the true sense of the word.  After finishing his formal education, he began his business career in the plumbing supply business, where he rose to the position of manager at age 18.  In 1959, Ben partnered with Curtis Conner to build and operate an amusement park known as KiddyLand (later renamed Funland) on Southwest Parkway.

Ben entered the manufactured housing industry in 1969 by co-founding CWH Manufacturing Corporation in Childress, Texas.  By the late 1970's, the company had been re-established in the name of Lancer Homes, where the company manufactured high end mobile homes and modular housing under the trade name of Lancer.  He took the company public under the name of Lanchart Industries, Inc., and expanded the operations by adding four other manufacturing plants, producing various housing units, shipping nationwide and to Europe.  Lanchart then established its own supply company in the name of Woodco Supply, Inc.  After Lanchart merged with LD Brinkman Industries, Inc., Ben entered the commercial real estate industry, where he headed up various successful real estate ventures in Wichita Falls, which included Century City on Maplewood Blvd., the Southwest Building (formerly Chase Bank Tower) on Kemp Blvd. and the Best Center on Kell Blvd.

Ben served as a director on the board of Southwest National Bank for several years.  He was on the Board of Directors of American National Bank & Trust for over 25 years, where he served on various committees.  He was a member of the MSU Presidents Excellence Club for 16 years and served on the Vernon College Foundation Board.  He was a long-time supporter of the Wichita Falls Boys & Girls Club.

Ben was an avid pilot, who had a private pilot license for over 40 years.  He enjoyed traveling and hunting but his greatest pleasure was spending time with his family.  Many wonderful memories were made at the lake house at Possum Kingdom, skiing in Colorado and traveling abroad with friends.

Ben was preceded in death by his parents, Idell and B.P. Woody, and his daughter Lesa Woody.  Survivors include his wife, Betty Woody; daughter, Melissa Woody and grandchildren, Woody and Libby Lowder; brother, Gary Woody and wife, Lucy, and their children Brett and Bruce Woody; son, Lee Woody and wife, Susan, and grandchildren Lesa Lee and Bingham Woody.

Ben will be greatly missed by all.

Graveside services will be held at Crestview Memorial Cemetery on January 4 ^th at 1:00 pm under the direction of Lunn Funeral Home.  Services officiated by Roger Deerinwater.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.lunnscolonial.com