William Benjamin Clendenin

William Benjamin “Ben” Clendenin was born in Nashville, Tennessee on October 27, 1945.  He entered his eternal rest in Dallas, Texas on December 8, 2025. 

His childhood was spent in the Nashville area, mostly less than an hour from his grandparents’ farm in Clarksville, TN.  In 1956 he moved with his family to Texas, first settling in Corsicana and eventually in Dallas, where he graduated Highland Park High School in 1963. 

He went on to study at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, where he majored in English and met lifelong friends.  He took a year off from college to serve in the VISTA program in Oregon, instilling a dedication to serving others.

After college he enrolled in seminary at Perkins School of Theology for a year.  In 1970 his wanderlust led him to move with friends from Southwestern to Boston, Massachusetts, where they all lived together in a house in Cambridge. 

His friends left Boston in 1972, but Ben stayed on in New England another 55 years.  In those early years, he was befriended by an Italian American from Boston, Charlie Tummino, who introduced him to Fenway Park and turned him into a lifelong Red Sox fan.

First working as a social worker, he later shifted to business.  After earning his MBA from Boston College, he worked in healthcare finance for most of his career. 

During his time at Blue Cross Blue Shield in Quincy, he met his great love, Carolyn Mercer, a native Bostonian who further tied him to the Northeast.  They wed in June 1981 and lived in Cambridge, Needham, and Medfield.  She was his partner in every way, his dearest friend. 

Throughout his life, his trademark characteristic was kindness.  His caring nature endeared him to all he met.  He was easy to get along with but was sometimes hard to know.  He was content to be alone.

He was ever curious, reading multiple newspapers a day, tackling books requiring great thought in many disciplines, and joining 2 book clubs at his local library (one of which was entirely devoted to the classics). 

Ben was a loving caregiver for Carolyn during her illness.  After her passing in 2021, he lost some of his spark.

He moved back to Dallas in April 2024, rekindling old friendships and relishing time with family.  He was able to spend time with all of his great nieces and nephews in his last year.  He especially enjoyed the family celebration of his 80th birthday in October. 

To the very end, he retained his gracious spirit and bright smile despite significant physical challenges. 

Ben is predeceased by his wife Carolyn, his parents Horace and Geneva (Loggins) Clendenin, and his brother Pat Clendenin.  He is survived by his sister Mary Ann White, by his brother-in-law Bob Mercer, and by his nieces and nephews Curtis White, Beverly White, Ted White and wife Laura, Amber Bell and husband Seth, and Scott Clendenin and wife Jessica; by his great nieces and nephews Jack White, Sam White, Hudson White, Maisie White, Abbey Clendenin, and Finley Bell. 

A Memorial Service will be held in the Eaton Funeral Home, 1351 Highland Ave, Needham, on Monday, May 4th at 11am. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 10 - 11am. Interment will follow at Walnut Hills Cemetery in Brookline.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Southwestern University.

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