Benjamin W. 'Ben' Oberlin

As proprietor of Oberlin's Grocery and Market and Oberlin's Ben Franklin Store, Ben Oberlin manages to keep himself busy. He came to Culver 10 years ago to engage in the retail food business and five years later built the attractive new building that houses the variety store. The above picture was taken in the latter store while Ben was waiting on a customer buring the Christmas shopping rush. He has been identified with a number of community activitites, having served as treasurer of the Boy Scout troop committee; treasurer, sergeant-at-arms, and vice commander of the American Legion post and vice president of the Chamber of Commerce as well as a member of a number of committees. Mr. Oberlin was born in Kankakee, Ill. served a year and a half in the army during the WOrld War, was assistant cashier of a bank at Herscher, Ill, for three and half years before going to Hamlet, where he operated a genral store for five years, making a total of 20 years of business experience for Mr. Oberlin, besides operating farms during this time.

1937 - May 5 Ben Oberlin has purchased the Elliot Cottage on Long Point which he plans to occupy during the summer months

Benjamin W. "Ben" Oberlin and Florence (Lane) Oberlin were originally from Hanna and moved to Culver about 1930. They Owned:

• Ben Franklin 10¢ Store
• IGA Grocery
• Oberlin Appliance Store

married Florence E. Lane

Mrs. ben oberlin dies following long illness

Mrs. Florence E. Oberlin, 73,850 West Shore Drive, Culver ,died at 12:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28, at the Indiana Baptist Home, Zionsville, Ind., where she had been residing for the past six months. She had been in ill health for the past three years.

Mrs. Oberlin was born on July 26, 1894, at Bonfield , Ill., to Charles and Emma (Hertz) Lane. On Aug. 6, 1920, at Herscher, Ill., she was married to Ben W. Oberlin, who survives.

She had lived in Culver since 1927, and was a member of the Culver Methodist Church. Surviving with the husband, are a son, William Oberlin, Indianapolis; two daughters, Mrs. Dorothy Mills, Houston, Texas; and Mrs. Audrey Kitchens, Honol ulu, Ha.; a sister, Mrs. Myrtle Dwyer, Kankakee, Ill.; two brothers, Richard Lane, Herscher, Ill., and harry Lane, Denver, Colo.; and six grandsons.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 31, at the Culver Methodist Church, with the pastor, Rev. Carl Q. Baker, officiating. Burial followed in the Culver Masonic Cemetery.

The Easterday-Bonine Funeral Home, Main and Lakeshore Drive, Culver , was in charge of the arrangements. THURSDAY, NOVEMRER 2, 1907 Culver Citizen

Their children were:

William Wallace married Rose Marie Cowen
Dorothy Jean
Audrey

Marshall county History