Benjamin Franklin Overbey

Born in Iaeger, WV, to Rev. Benjamin F. Overbey and Alice Durham Overbey, he grew up in War, WV in the coal region of that state. He was the youngest of eight children and fondly remembered exploring the mountainous terrain surrounding his home.

Frank was a professional engineer who, upon earning his degree in Civil Engineering in 1950 from West Virginia University went to work for the Pennsylvania Railroad. With the exception of two years in the U.S. Army 169th Engineering Battalion (1955-1957) he worked for railroads—first the Pennsylvania Railroad (1950-1965), then the Reading Railroad (1965-1976), then Conrail (1976), and finally Amtrak (1976-1993) holding positions of increasing responsibility including Superintendent of Track, Division Engineer, Senior Engineer and Director of Maintenance of Way and Structural Support. He finished his career as the Senior Director of Engineering Support for Amtrak.

He married Velma Beatrice Hawkins in 1952. With her, he raised three sons, Benjamin, Jeffrey and Scott; served as a scout leader; and was active in local Baptist churches as a trustee, deacon, and stewardship chair. Throughout his adult life he participated in a variety of civic organizations including the Masons, the Lions Club, and the American Legion. During his time at Lakeview Terrace he was an active volunteer who especially enjoyed helping with grounds maintenance and cleanup.

Frank was an avid golfer and enjoyed that sport well into his eighties. He shot his first and only “hole in one” at the Lakeview Terrace course.

Following his retirement from Amtrak in 1993, he and Velma moved to Huntersville, NC to be close to and help care for his sisters Bess and Minnie. In 2004 the two of them moved to Lakeview Terrace, Altoona, Florida to be closer to Velma’s sister Evelyn Hawkins Bombay.

Survivors include sons: Benjamin F. (Sue) Overbey, III, Gaithersburg, MD, Jeffrey Jon (Jenny) Overbey, Mocksville, NC, Scott A. Overbey, Atlanta, GA; and 5 grandchildren: Tom (Jenny) Overbey, Jon (Diana) Overbey, Rose Overbey (Peter) Silva, Jason Overbey and Jessica (Mark) Zhang Overbey; and numerous nephews and nieces including Brenda Bombay (Dave) Quattlebaum of Leesburg, FL and Lois Bombay (Bill) Smith of Atlanta, GA. He was predeceased by his brothers, William, Edward and Chester Overbey, and sisters Doretta Overbey, Bessie Marie Baldwin, Edythe Nelson and Ruby Overbey.

Memorial services will be held 2:00 p.m., Saturday, December 15, 2018 at the Lakeview Terrace Sun Porch with Pastor Bill Peters officiating.