BIOGRAPHYof BENJAMIN LOOFBOURROW

Ben was born in Stockport, Iowa in 1887, the youngest child of James and Mary C. He attended Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa.

After Ben and Edna's marriage in Iowa on March 27, 1912 they moved to Sacramento, Ca. where Ben worked as a deliveryman for Hale Bros. Department store ‏(later Macy's)‏.

In 1915 they moved to San Felipe, a district 7 miles north of Hollister, Ca. There he worked as a cheese maker. Dwight was born Dec. 28,1917 while they lived in San Felipe.

In 1918 they lived for a short time in Fairfield, Iowa, when Harold was born on Oct. 8, 1919.

In 1920 Ben and Edna bought an apricot orchard and chicken ranch on Sunnyslope Rd. in Hollister, Ca. where he ran a poultry egg business. Perry was born June 23, 1923.

Ben had a beautiful tenor voice and sang many solos in his church and the community. He was a tireless worker and supporter of his Assembly of God church in Hollister.

After retirement in 1947, Ben became an avid gardener, raising beautiful roses that he took weekly to decorate their church. He became interested in photography, and took many beautiful pictures.

In the early 50s he purchased a wire recorder and took great pleasure in recording anyone who would perform for him and his recorder.

When each of his sons married accomplished pianists, he was more than pleased. Whenever they visited he always had a song he wanted to try.

Ben lived to be 84 years old and died suddenly with a heart attack the day after his beloved church moved into its new home.

Sources of information: US Census 1900; Cedar Twp., Van Buren, IA; newspaper articles of Harold's death, Ben and Edna's 50th Anniversary and their obituaries; personal and Christmas letters from Ben and Edna through the years; Edna's "famous" scrapbook where she kept track of all of us; information from author's mother, Eva ‏(Loofbourrow)‏ Hockaday, from memory; 2008-2009, Perry and Elizabeth ‏(Stifle)‏ Loofbourrow, have shared numerous photos for scanning into our Loofbourrow photo archives, as well as, family and biographical information.