Benjamin 'Ben' DeWitt Vanadore

Benjamin ‘Ben’ DeWitt Vanadore, 74, of Abbeville, SC, beloved husband of Gloria Wood Vanadore, died Monday, February 17, 2025, at his home. Ben was born in Ware Shoals, SC on November 17, 1950. He was the son of the late Paul M. Vanadore and Margaret Hiott Vanadore.

A 1969 graduate of Ware Shoals High School, Ben completed his welding training at Piedmont Tech and then became an instructor of welding. He ended his career at B. F. Shaw (later C. B. & I) in Laurens, SC. Ben was most proud of earning a bachelor’s degree from Lander University in education. He taught for over two years in Ware Shoals before returning to welding. 

Ben was a Boy Scout leader for the Long Cane District. He received the District Award of Merit in 1996. Ben had an encyclopedic memory of automobiles, country music, science matters, jokes and stories of Ware Shoals and its families. While keeping the family cars running, he could also tear a broken vehicle apart and put it back together in good shape.

Cooking barbeque and cakes were his culinary specialties. Ben and his friend, Alan Estes, created a honey mustard barbeque sauce recipe that was well sought after. He made a variety of cakes on birthdays for family members, but the favorite was a ten-layer chocolate iced vanilla cake. 

Ben was a member of Ware Shoals First Baptist Church. He could recite chapter, verse and scripture for any occasion from the Bible.

In addition to his parents, Ben was preceded in death by all of his siblings – Frances (Wally) Smith, Ernest Adger ‘Buddy’ (June) Vanadore, Genie (Franklin) Traynham, Leathea Vanadore, Kerry Vanadore and Annie Lee Vanadore.

Ben is survived by his beloved wife of 23 years, Gloria, of the home; his sons by his first marriage to Barbara Vanadore – Robert (wife, Stacey, and children Micah and Evangeline) and Benjamin (wife, Ani, and children Carly, Liam, Arbion, Ana and Henry). He is also survived by two stepsons, Taylor and Charles Williams, whom he treated as his own. Close to his heart were his nephew, Bryan Vanadore (wife, Cheryl, and children Adger and Keri) and his nieces, Cathie La Doux and Carrie Hanna (husband, Frank, and children Brad and Rachel).

Graveside services will be 2:00PM, Saturday, February 22, 2025, in Long Cane Cemetery, Hwy. 20, Abbeville, SC 29620 with Rev. Mary Balfour Dunlap officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646 or to the animal shelter of your choice.

A message of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting www.harrisfuneral.com.

Harris Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Abbeville is assisting the Vanadore family.