A memorial service for Benjamin Joseph Groner, Jr. will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, January 11, 2014 at Cochran Funeral Home in Livingston, Texas. He passed away on December 28, 2013, after losing a hard-fought battle with pancreatic cancer. He was born on June 16, 1945 in Livingston, Texas, to Benjamin Joseph Groner, Sr. and Catherine Marie Fabacher Groner. He was raised in Baytown but left after high school to attend college at Texas Tech University. He later transferred to, and graduated from, the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. After graduation, he attended both basic training and officer training in the Air Force and subsequently served as an officer while stationed in Del Rio. He received the National Defence Service Medal while serving his Country. Upon being honorably discharged from the Air Force, he returned to the University of Houston and received his Master's degree. He spent most of his life working for the federal government in several different departments and locations. He retired in 2000 as a well-respected Director at the FDIC. He was a gifted artist from the time he was a young boy, was very passionate about both music and automobiles throughout his life, and was an avid Astros fan. He loved dogs and was almost always accompanied by a great canine friend. He married his high school sweetheart, Cheryl, in 2001; they truly enjoyed their quiet retirement life together on the shores of beautiful Lake Livingston. He was preceded in death by his parents and his oldest child, Alexander Dean Groner. He is survived by his wife Cheryl Burnet Groner; his older sister Hinda Groner and spouse Millie Burt; his younger sister Becky Finley and her husband Dee Finley; his daughter Valerie Lonsdale; his daughter Jocelyn Fagan and her husband Richard Fagan; his son Joe Groner; his stepdaughter Wendy Hindman and her husband Shane Hindman; his stepson Heath Romero and his wife Donna Romero; his stepdaughter Jenny Romero; his grandchildren: Julia and Elizabeth Lonsdale, Meagan Guerreiro and her husband Miguel Guerreiro: Caleb Hindman: Heather, Tyler and Brandon Romero; and his faithful Brittany Spaniel, Thyme.

Cochran Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Please sign our online guestbook at www.cochranfh.com