Benjamin D. Farrar, 86, former Rock Island resident, currently of Port Byron, died Friday, April 24, 2015 at UnityPoint Health - Trinity Moline.

Funeral services are 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home, Rock Island. Visitation is 9:00 a.m. until service time Tuesday. Burial is at Memorial Park Cemetery, Rock Island. Memorials may be made to Arrowhead Ranch, 12200 104th St., Coal Valley, IL 61240 or to First United Methodist Church, 9412 228 Street N, Port Byron, IL 61271, or to a favorite charity.

Benjamin David Farrar, Jr., was born April 16, 1929 in Rock Island, a son of Judge Ben and Beatrice Berry Farrar. He married Patricia Apple on Nov. 25, 1950 in Rock Island. She preceded him in death on Oct. 15, 2008. He married Nancy Young Brown on Sept. 9, 2010 in Rock Island.

Ben graduated from Rock Island High School in 1947. He attended Monmouth College and graduated from Milliken University in 1951. Ben founded Ben Farrar and Company in 1961. He was a member of the Rock Island Board of Insurance Agents and State Association of Independent Insurance Agents. He served as past president of the Rock Island Board of Realtors. He was a past member of the Chamber of Commerce and Junior Chamber of Commerce, Elks, and Lions Club. Ben attended First United Methodist Church, Port Byron. Ben was a strong supporter of Arrowhead Ranch, Coal Valley.

He served on the Lay Advisory Board of Construction of the Franciscan Hospital, now UnityPoint Health - Trinity Rock Island. Ben was chairman of the board of the Rock Island Bank & Trust Company and also Financial Services Corporation of the Midwest, which were among his many endeavors.

Ben enjoyed fishing and boating and all sports, especially golf. He was one of the founders of the South Park Tennis Club. Hosting weeklong fishing trips at his cabin in the Sioux Narrows, Ontario, Canada, complete with shore dinners was very enjoyable for Ben, as well as boating at his summer home on Lake Vermillion, Minnesota.

Memorable time was spent at his weekly gatherings with his coffee group, where the topics of all sporting events were critiqued, along with national and local news.

Survivors include his wife, Nancy; sons, Ben III (Nancy), Tom (Patti); grandchildren, Amy, Tommy, Shauna and Jessica; great-grandchildren, Sam and Jillian; sister, Virginia Pearson; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Barbara Marx.

Online condolences may be left at wheelanpressly.com.