Benjaman “Ben” Warren Harriman

TOWNSEND, Ga. – Benjaman “Ben” Warren Harriman, 79, of Townsend, Ga., peacefully passed away Friday July 11, 2025, at the Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center in Lake City, Fla., surrounded by his wife and two daughters. Ben, or Benny as he was often called, will be remembered for his warm smile, his contagious laugh, his passion for outdoor activities like hiking and hunting, and his love for all things fast and dangerous.

Ben was born in Readfield on Aug. 27, 1945, the youngest of three children, to the late Edwin Newton Harriman and Mabel Anita Lewis Harriman. He graduated from Kents Hill School in 1964, and then ventured off to Lake Placid, N.Y. to attend Paul Smith’s College where he studied Forestry. His college days were cut short when he was initially drafted, and then enlisted into the United States Army in 1966. He qualified for helicopter training and spent the next year in North Texas and Alabama learning to fly. In 1967 he deployed to Vietnam where he served his country as a combat helicopter pilot. He survived being shot down and received a commendation for flying over the DMZ to pick up a fellow soldier that was shot down and stranded.

Upon returning home in 1968, he was stationed at Fort Stewart, Ga. He separated from the Army and moved to Townsend, Ga. where he started a family and decided to continue serving his country in the Georgia National Guard. There he was a helicopter pilot instructor teaching new recruits how to fly the CH54 Skycrane, also known as the Sikorsky CH-54 Tarhe. He retired from the National Guard after 20 years of service. He then put his technical skills to use working in maintenance positions and as a contractor building upscale homes on St. Simons Island for Mark McDonald Construction.

He is survived by his twin daughters, Carmen Ryals of Metter, Ga.; and Nicole Smith and her husband Andrew, of Waynesville, Ga. and Nicole’s two daughters, Kellie and Lexi McQuaig. He also leaves behind his wife, Susan Griffin Harriman, now living in Lake City, Fla., and her three children, Lori Elissa Stephens and her husband Judd, Melanie Robin Edge and her husband Robbie, and Matthew Griffin and his wife Leanne; his brother, Daniel Orin Harriman, of Readfield and his two sons David Harriman and his wife Karen and Donn Harriman and his wife Jill; his sister, Nancy Elizabeth Harriman Edson and her husband Daniel, of San Marcos, Texas, and their two daughters, Tracy Edson and Stephanie Chandler; as well as many grandnieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Edwin Newton Harriman and Mabel Anita Lewis Harriman; his niece, Janet Lee Harriman Wicks, the daughter of Daniel and Sara Harriman; and his sister-in-law, Sara Ellen Wood Harriman; may they all rest in peace.

A Celebration of Life service honoring Ben Harriman will be held by family and friends at the Townsend Church of God on Sunday July 20, at 4 p.m. with Pastor Gary Ryals officiating. Ben will have an honorable burial at the Military Veterans Cemetery in Glenville, Ga.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in the deceased’s name, Benjaman Harriman, to the Readfield Volunteer Fire Department.