Benjamin R. Easterling Jr.

funeral director and owner, Swigart-Easterling Funeral Home, Canal Fulton, Ohio, died October 1, 2021, at age 71. Easterling graduated from the University of Kentucky and worked for Babcock and Wilcox Construction Company, as well as part time at Campfield-Hickman-Collier Funeral Home. Finding that he loved his part-time job, he enrolled at Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science and became a licensed funeral director. He then worked at Swigart Funeral Home in Canal Fulton. Easterling purchased the firm in 1989 and operated it for the past 32 years.

He was a member and often past president of many local, city, state and national organizations, including Canal Fulton Chamber of Commerce, Canal Fulton Rotary Club and the NW Touchdown Club. Easterling also served as president and past president of the Ohio Funeral Directors Association and as its NFDA Policy Board representative.

He is survived by wife Belinda, sons Chris and JR, two grandchildren and sister Suzanne.