Dr. Benjamin Rouse, Jr. Obituary

AIKEN – Dr. Benjamin Preston Rouse, Jr. passed away on July 13, 2021 at age 100. He was born in Welch, WVA on December 19, 1920 to Benjamin Preston Rouse and Mary Jane Blaylock Rouse. His formative years were spent in West Virginia, Missouri, Tennessee, and Virginia. He entered King College in Bristol, TN in 1938 and after three years transferred to Virginia Polytechnic Institute, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry while being employed at the Radford Ordinance Works. He served in the U.S. Navy in World War II.
Upon his discharge in 1946, he married his high school sweetheart, Virginia Caywood and returned to VPI, where he earned both a Masters and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Chemistry. After graduation he joined Tennessee Eastman Company in Kingsport, TN and enjoyed an extremely productive thirty-year career as a research chemist. He was a member of the American Chemical Society and made a number of technical presentations at their national meetings. He also contributed articles to the Encyclopedias of Chemical Technology and Polymer Technology. Additionally, he was granted several U.S. patents.
After retirement, he and Virginia relocated in Atlantis, FL, where he applied his extensive chemical experience as an instructor in local colleges. They later moved to Venice, FL, where Virginia passed away in 1983. While in Venice, Ben met the second love of his life, Hertha Fox.
They were married on Valentine's Day, 1985 and traveled extensively throughout the United States and abroad until moving to Aiken, SC in 1999.
In Aiken they became members of First Presbyterian Church as well as Houndslake Country Club, where Ben continued his golfing accomplishments. During his 87 years as a golfer, he was club champion a number of times, both in Kingsport and Venice. After turning 70, he often shot or bested his age - a true accomplishment for senior golfers. Interestingly, he had holes-in-one on the same date ten years apart.
Hertha passed away in 2012. In addition to his parents, Ben was predeceased by his first wife, Virginia, and also by his sister, Virginia. He is survived by his two stepsons, Dr. Thomas Fox of Lexington, VA and Stephen Fox of West Chester, PA. His memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church at 11 a.m. on July 28. Memorials may be directed to First Presbyterian Church, 224 Barnwell Avenue NW, Aiken, SC, 29801.