Benjamin S. HARGRAVE, Jr. Born on June 11, 1917, in Pittsburgh, PA. and died peacefully at home in Bellevue WA on May 1, 2007 with family members at his side. The middle child of Benjamin S. Hargrave and Helen Blume Hargrave. He grew up in Bradford Woods, PA. Ben graduated in 1938 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Carnegie Institute of Technology. He went through the Army Engineer Corps ROTC program while at Carnegie and upon graduating earned a commission in the US Marine Corps as a 2nd Lieutenant. While aboard the USS San Francisco, after observing the aviators on his ship he applied for flight training. He earned his wings in May 1941. He began his aviation career flying Stearman Bi-planes at Pensacola, FL. He then worked for a year as a flight instructor (IB Squadron) at Corry Field, Pensacola. He flew a diverse range of airplanes including F4U Corsairs in the South Pacific. At the end of his military career he was flying jets (DC-3) from Cherry Point Naval Air Station. As a member of the Marine Corps VMF 216 and VMF 215 squadrons, his service in WWII stands out in Marine Corps aviation history. VMF 216 was the first fighter squadron to land on the newly completed strip, Torokina, on Bougainville in the Solomon Islands. Served two tours of duty June 23, 1943 to Jan 22, 1944 and the second tour as commanding officer, Jan 22 to May 4, 1944. He served as commanding officer of VMF 215, June 8, - August 30, 1944. He retired as a Lt. Colonel in June, 1960 after 22 years of service; having earned two distinguished flying crosses and seven air medals. In 1960 Ben moved his family to Bellevue and worked at Boeing for nineteen years, first as an Administrative Engineer, then after earning his BS EE from the University of Washington (1972) doing both mechanical and electrical engineering for Boeing's KC135, AWACS and SST projects. He enjoyed photography, amateur radio, Navy MARS, gardening and weaving. Ben is survived by his wife of 61 years, Mildred (Milouise), and their 4 children: Natalie H. Burlingame and her husband, Meldon Coffey; Margarite D. Hargrave and her husband, Rich Carlstad; Benjamin P. Hargrave; and George B. Hargrave, his wife, Gretchen and 3 granddaughters: Valerie, Elizabeth and Rebecca. He was preceded in death by his sister, Barbara Kielman and his brother, Malcom Bates Hargrave. Ben a devoted husband and father is lovingly remembered and will be deeply missed. There will be no funeral service; those who wish may consider a memorial contribution to the American Heart Society or charity of their choice. Share memories and sign the family's guest book at www.flintofts.com. Published in print on 5/6/2007. Seattle Times