Benjamin Franklin Gillispie was born February 20, 1948 in Lubbock, TX. One of the early Baby Boomers, Ben, or Benjy to friends and family, came out with a thirst for knowledge of all types. Growing up in Lubbock, he helped his family with a grease business, bile processing, and animal processing, supplying everything from meat for greyhound racetracks to medical components.
This entrepreneurial spirit carried forth when he helped pioneer the satellite business, selling and installing satellite dishes to connect the people of earth with the technologies of the Space Age.
Ben married Kathey Denton in 1975 and they enjoyed travelling and exploring life together. In September of 1983, they welcomed their only child, Benjamin Garrick Gillispie. Moving to Austin, TX in 1990, Ben began to enjoy the greenery and variety of the Texas Hill Country.
With the availability of the internet, Ben sought to take advantage of the new opportunities afforded people. He traded stocks, options, and currencies online and watched as this became the new normal for the world.
Ben never stopped exploring one of his passions: Texas real estate, and he and Kathey have bought and sold parts of Texas throughout his life, as well as exploring areas of Texas of which people will never hear.
A strong Christian, being saved and brought to Jesus Christ as a boy, Ben instilled these values in his family and lived generously trying to follow Christ’s example. Giving a ride to a stranger in need, or basic toiletries and food to one without a home were some ways he lived in love.
He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Deema; his parents, John and Kathryn Gillispie; and his grandparents, Bill McIlhaney, and Walter and Mary Gillispie.
He is survived by his wife, Kathey; son, Garrick; brothers, John and Joe; aunts, Nell and Sue; numerous cousins; brothers and sisters in law and nieces and nephews.
There will be a graveside service at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 7, 2018 at Grange Hall Cemetery in Rio Vista, Texas under the direction of Rosser Funeral Home, Cleburne, Texas.
In honor of Ben, Hawaiian shirts may be worn to the service.
A celebration of life will be held in Austin at a later date.

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