Benjamin Mood Badger Jr.

Benjamin M. Badger, Jr. passed away peacefully on November 3, 2014. A memorial gathering will take place on Saturday, December 13, 2014 from 4 to 6 PM at McAlister-Smith Funeral Home, James Island Chapel, 347 Folly Road, Charleston, South Carolina 29412. Ben was born in Columbia on September 24, 1923 to the late Loretta McKain Badger and Benjamin M. Badger, Sr. Known to his family as Sonny, he was raised in Charleston and grew up hunting and fishing near his home on “The Point” on James Island. He had a lifelong love of animals and wildlife and was an experienced birder and naturalist. He graduated from The High School of Charleston in June of 1941 and attended College of Charleston for a year, transferring to the University of South Carolina. His education was interrupted by his enlistment (with his brother Alston) in 1943 in the United States Marine Corp. He was a radar operator and was stationed in Okinawa, serving from June 10, 1943 until his honorable discharge on December 3, 1945. He then returned to USC on a full athletic scholarship, excelling in sports including golf, tennis, golden gloves boxing, swimming and diving and track and field. He went on to set college records in the high jump and pole vault. He was a proud member of SAE Fraternity and was a lifelong Carolina Gamecock fan. It was there that he met and married the late Dorothy Heyward, the mother of his children. He received his BA degree in physical education from USC on June 5, 1950. Ben settled in Columbia to raise his family, working as an accountant in material management at SCE&G for 35 years. He was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church and Forest Lake Country Club. During his years in Columbia, the family spent many happy summers at Pawley’s Island playing a game he claimed to have invented called “half rubber” on the beach. After retirement, Ben returned to his beloved Charleston, living at Folly Beach and in Riverland Terrace before moving in with his daughter, Allen Badger and her family on James Island in 2007. Ben was predeceased by this brother Alston C. Badger, his sister Jean Badger Lynn, his nephew Alston C. Badger, Jr. and his great nephew Reece Fitts. He is survived by his sister, Sarah Badger Graham Vann of McClellanville; his daughters, Dorothy “Allen” Badger (Al Cholewsky) of James Island, and Coles Heyward Badger (Jeff Slifer) of Chapin; his granddaughters, Nena Slifer, Lily Slifer and Alanna Cholewsky; his great-grandson Carter Infante; his nieces and nephews, Tommy, Ben, Bill and Beth Graham, Allison and Stewart Lynn, Rhett Fitts, Deedie Daniel, Betsy Langdon, Mary Cartwright, Amy Badger, Sally Jarvis; and numerous great nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the SPCA or a wildlife preservation organization of your choice. Condolences may be viewed or submitted at www.mcalister-smith.com Arrangements were entrusted to McALISTER-SMITH FUNERALHOME, JAMES ISLAND CHAPEL, 347 Folly Road, Charleston, SC 29412, 843-614-8494.

Service:
Graveside service