Benjamin O. Fitzgerald, 84, died January 21, 2013 in Dunnellon, Fla.

Ben was born in 1928 in Canaan, Maine to Susie and Benjamin O. Fitzgerald.

He married his sweetheart, Margaret, in 1947; they were married 66 years. Together they had five children, Darlene Markham (Terry), Cynthia Thibodeau (Tom Cote), Benjamin Fitzgerald (Irene), and two sons who died in 2008, Ronald Fitzgerald and Dwight Fitzgerald (Cara).

Ben came from a large family. He was predeceased by siblings Walter Fitzgerald, Mildred Brennan, Violet Fitzgerald, Wilson Fitzgerald and Geraldine Fitzgerald.

He is survived by siblings Pauline Bowen, Madeline Robinson, Emery Fitzgerald (Barbara) and Golden Salisbury (Walter);  grandchildren, Shawn Markham (Jennifer), Nicolas Thibodeau (Bobbie), Lisa Thibodeau, Todd Fitzgerald and Troy Fitzgerald (Stephanie); and great-grandchildren, Samantha and Morgan Markham, Kiley, Cole and Ian Thibodeau.

Ben's professional career was in law enforcement. He spent 25 years with the Bath Police Department rising to the rank of sergeant. The next seven years he served as Wiscasset's police chief (1976 to 1983). He attended several law enforcement and military police schools during his career; Babson College in Massachusetts, Yucca Flats Test Area in Mercury, Nev.; Military Police School at Fort McClellan in Alabama, and others. Ben was a life member of the Maine Chief of Police Association.

During his law enforcement years, Ben was involved with a group of young men interested in hot rods; the group was known as the “Road Angels.”

In his early years he drove trucks for the Sam Prawer & Co. and Maine Gas. He was well known for plowing snow in downtown Bath and owned and operated several garages, one a Chevron Station in downtown Bath. He and Margaret also owned and operated Richards Restaurant in Bath for seven years.

In his private time he decided to learn how to fly and owned an airplane with Bob Dingley. He was also a “softy” when it came to animals and considered them his very best friends.

During his retirement years, Ben and Margaret had many good traveling experiences in their “Little Winn” motor home from Maine to Arizona (Lake Havasu home of the “London Bridge,”) Texas and Florida.

On May 22 at 1 p.m., a memorial service will be held at Lawry Brothers Funeral Home, 107 Main St., Fairfield, followed by a committal service at Fairview Cemetery on Route 23 N in Canaan. The Bath Police Department Color Guard will be participating at the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Bath Police Benevolent Association, 250 Water St., Bath, ME 04530.