Bennie Dize

Bennie Greenwood Dize, 83, beloved husband of the late Eugenia “Missie” Turlington Dize, passed away on Tuesday, September 22, 2015, at the Palm Beach Gardens Hospice and Palliative Care Center.  A recent resident of Loxahatchee, Fla., Bennie was formerly of Chesapeake, Va., and the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

Born July 7, 1932 in Deep Creek, on the Eastern Shore, he was a son of the late Andrew C. Dize and Hazel Johnson Dize, formerly of Onancock, Va.  In addition to his wife and parents, he was predeceased by his sister, Elsie Dize Scott.  Ben is survived by two daughters, Diana D. Neeson and her husband Larry, of Virginia Beach, Va., and Penny D. Lombardo and her husband Bob, of Loxahatchee; his grandson, Benjamin Neeson of Charleston, SC; his brother, Colburn Dize and his wife Polly, of Onancock; nieces and nephews, Andy Dize and wife Brenda, Alice Rew and husband David, Jane White and husband Donnie, and Mike Lewandowski and wife Ruth; several great-nieces; a great-nephew; and many cousins.

Bennie was a retired Maritime Tugboat Captain and Ship Docking Pilot in Norfolk, Va., for over forty years; and previously served in the U.S. Coast Guard for three years.  He was a member of Central Masonic Lodge #300, A.F. & A.M. in Onley, Va.; Khedive Temple; and Knights Templar.

Throughout his life, Bennie was an avid bird hunter.  Not only did he enjoy raising, training, and hunting his English Setters, he often participated in Field Trial events with much success.  Ben spent his whole life on the water – recreationally, as well as working with his father in the seafood business on the Chesapeake Bay, before becoming a tugboat captain.  It was always a part of him, and he was always at home there.

Funeral services will be conducted from the chapel of the Williams-Onancock Funeral Home, Saturday, September 26, 2015 at 11:00 a.m., with The Reverend Jonathan Carpenter officiating.  Interment with Masonic Rites, will follow the service, at Fairview Lawn Cemetery.  There will be a visitation at the funeral home, Friday, September 25, 2015, from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., and on Saturday, one hour prior to the service.

Memory tributes may be shared with the family at www.williamsfuneralhomes.com.

Arrangements by the Williams-Onancock Funeral Home.