CAPT George Benajmin Vaupel

CAPT George Benjamin Vaupel, USN, (Ret) 80, of Auburn, passed away Friday, December 10th, at St. Luke's Hospital, Orwigsburg. 
 
Born in Salina, Kansas on February 11, 1941, he was a son of the late George A. and Mary Martha Armbruster Vaupel. Ben spent his childhood years on a farm in rural Kansas. He attended Ellsworth High School, lettering in football and debate. 
 
In 1959, while attending McPherson College, Ben received a congressional appointment to the United States Naval Academy, Class of 1964. Ben joined the fleet as an Anti-Submarine Warfare Helicopter Aviator. He proudly served his country in active duty and in the Naval Reserve, retiring at the rank of Captain. One of the highlights of his career at sea was flying the recovery mission for the splash-down of Apollo 7. 
 
In addition to his parents, Ben was preceded in death by his first wife of 48 years, Veronica R. Angelo Vaupel; as well as his infant daughter, Cynthia Marie Vaupel, and a sister, Martha Mae Kirby.
 
In 1979, Ben and Veronica created and operated a successful manufacturing business, employing fourteen for more than 10 years. The company still operates in Berks County under different corporate ownership. 
 
Ben is survived by three sons and their wives: Warren and Rosa, Wayne and Sylvia, Welles and Susan, all of Auburn; as well as 6 grandchildren: Nicolas, Hadrian, Andrew, Marcus, Andrea, and Alexander. Also, he is survived by his loving wife of three years, MaryAnna Lake Taylor of Chesapeake City, MD. Ben and Mary Anna enjoyed sharing time between their Maryland and Auburn homes.
 
He was a former member of St. Ambrose Roman Catholic Church, Schuylkill Haven, and a current member of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Hamburg.
 
A man of many talents and always with a list of projects, Ben enjoyed working and helping his sons and grandchildren with life skills. His was “grandfather extraordinaire” and enjoyed a wonderful relationship with his grandchildren. His exemplary method of teaching was with guided practice and gentle critiques. Ben was also heavily involved with Pennsylvania Forest Stewardship Program as well as youth forestry education. 
 
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ben’s memory to the Center for Private Forests at Penn State, 416 Forest Resources Building, University Park, PA 16802. 
 
A Mass of Christian Burial held at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Hamburg, will be announced at a later date.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of CAPT George Benajmin Vaupel, please visit our floral store.