LINCOLN – Benjamin Tibbetts Sr., a local businessman, died Jan. 27, 2005, at a Lincoln hospital surrounded by the family he loved so much. He was born Oct. 13, 1928, in Lincoln. Benjamin was a self-made man, starting work when he was a teenager at the local mill. He worked there for 23 years. Many of the men he worked with will attest to being “baptized” by him in the mill pond. On Jan. 1, 1949, he married Leola M. Jipson. He started a grain business at his home on Hale Street, moving it across the street as it grew. In 1979 he and his wife purchased the former Buck Motors Inc., on West Broadway, and started the business Tibbetts Building and Fuel Ctr., Inc. He was a community minded man being a member of the Lincoln Town Council and a former president of the airport committee, and was instrumental in establishing the Lincoln Airport. He constructed two of Lincoln’s Streets, Tibbetts Drive and Mt. View Drive, on land that he owned. In addition to his wife, Leola Tibbetts, of Lincoln, he is survived by two children and their spouses, Esther Ring and Charles, of Lincoln and Joan Mulligan and Terry, of Enfield; 10 grandchildren, Curt Ring, Kendall Ring, Eric Ring, Rachel Hanscom, Benjamin Tibbetts III, Kari Clark, W. Jared Mulligan, Martin Tibbetts, Kristy Tibbetts and Matthew Mulligan; and 18 great-grandchildren. He always had great joy watching his children, then his grandchildren and now his great-grandchildren playing and swimming at the camp. He was predeceased by a son, Benjamin Tibbetts Jr., who was married to Carol (Tibbetts) Jipson. He was also predeceased by Collie Brooks who was a “friend to a child in need. ” Friends may call 7-9 p.m. Saturday at the Clay Funeral Home, 7 Lee Road, Lincoln. Funeral services will be held 5 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Jack Stewart and the Rev. Seth Avery officiating. Spring interment will be in Lincoln Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to American Diabetes Association, 163 Lancaster St., Suite 98 R, Portland, ME 04101. Donations may be left at the funeral home. For an online register book, please visit www.clayfuneralhome.com.
BENJAMIN TIBBETTS SR.
