Benjamin "Ben" Christopher Boice

Benjamin “Ben” Christopher Boice May 5, 1980 – July 11, 2026 Ben Boice, 46, passed from this life into the arms of Jesus on July 11, 2026, after a courageous battle with aggressive stage IV esophageal cancer. While our hearts are shattered by his absence, we do not grieve without hope. Ben knew the Lord Jesus. We his family, find comfort in the promise that death is not the end. We believe that Ben has been made whole, fully healed, his pain is gone, and that he now rests in the presence of his Savior. Ben was born on May 5, 1980, and lived a life defined by service, sacrifice, hard work, and an extraordinary love for others. He was the man people depended on—the one who showed up, found a solution, carried the weight, and gave of himself without asking for recognition in return. Above all else, Ben's greatest joy and proudest accomplishment was his family. He leaves behind his wife, Amber (his best friend, his “favorite”, the love of his life) and their two children, Hannah and Henry. Ben loved his family fiercely and completely. He worked tirelessly to provide for them, protect them, and build a life for them. To Amber, he was a husband, best friend, partner, protector, and the person with whom she built a lifetime of memories. To Hannah and Henry, he was their “Dad, Daddy, Papa”—a role he treasured beyond words. His love for his children was immeasurable. The legacy he gave them of laughter, strength, and love will remain woven into the fabric of who they are for generations. Ben is survived by his grandmother, Janice Keast, his mother, Teresa Boice; his siblings, Andrea (Robert) Sharp, Seth Boice, and Katrina Kazmair; seven nieces and nephews; his mother-in-law, Vanessa Collier (David Cook); and his brothers-in-law, Joel Collier and Daniel (Amber Mickle) Collier. He leaves behind many extended family members, friends, coworkers, patients, and countless others whose lives are better because Ben was part of them. Ben was preceded in death by his father, Matthew Boice; his paternal grandparents; his maternal grandfather (Robert Henry); and his grandmother-in-law (Audra Radcliff). We take comfort imaging the wedding feast of the Lamb where all of our family will be together again. Ben proudly served his country in the United States Navy from 1999 to 2008. During more than nine years of honorable service, he served as a Sonar Technician and achieved the rank of Petty Officer First Class. During his time of service he completed two overseas deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Ben's commitment to service did not end upon discharge; Service was simply part of who he was. After his military career, Ben continued caring for others through nursing. He became a Registered Nurse and later an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (Family Nurse Practitioner) working in the fields of cardiology, retail health, urgent care and interventional pain management. Ben’s dedication to serving others also extended into his work with New Perspective Counseling and Consultation Services, a practice he would eventually proudly own. Long before becoming the owner, Ben served as the office manager for more than a decade, pouring countless hours, immeasurable energy, and so much of himself into helping build and grow the practice into what it became. Ben was the sweat and muscle behind the work, the heart behind its mission, and, in so many ways, the glue that held it all together. He was the person who solved the problems, kept things moving, and quietly carried responsibilities that many never even knew existed. His leadership was rarely about a title; it was about showing up, working hard, and making sure the therapists around him were empowered to present their best selves to the clients and communities they serve. New Perspective Counseling and Consultation Services is part of Ben’s legacy, and his fingerprints will forever remain on the practice, the therapists he worked alongside, and all the lives touched through the work he devoted so much of himself to. He devoted his professional life to helping people during some of their most vulnerable moments. Ben was intelligent, hardworking, resourceful, and deeply committed to those who depended on him. Whether serving his country, caring for a patient, supporting a colleague, helping a friend, or providing for his family, Ben gave everything he had. That was Ben. He was a giver. He was a protector. He was a provider. He was the person others called when they needed help. He carried burdens quietly and loved through action. He did not need attention or praise. Ben simply saw what needed to be done and did it. In 2026, Ben and his family received the devastating diagnosis of stage IV esophageal cancer with metastasis to his liver and bones. The diagnosis came suddenly and changed their lives in ways words can never fully describe. Yet even as his body grew tired, Ben remained Ben. His concern was still for Amber, Hannah and Henry and the people he loved. In his final days, Ben made his wishes clear. He wanted peace. He wanted to be home. Most of all, he wanted to be with his wife and his children. And that is where he was—surrounded by the family he loved more than anything in this world. Ben's life cannot be measured by the number of years between May 5, 1980, and July 11, 2026. His life is measured in the people he served, the patients he cared for, the family he protected, the children he raised, the woman he loved, and the countless lives forever changed because he was here. There will forever be an empty place at the table, an empty space beside Amber, and a daddy-shaped hole in the hearts of Hannah and Henry that no one else can ever fill. His absence will be felt in a thousand moments, both big and small, and he will be deeply and desperately missed for all the days to come. But Ben's story does not end with cancer. Cancer did not get the final word. Death did not win. Jesus did. Because of Jesus, we believe Ben is healed. He is whole. He is free from pain. The body that grew tired and suffered is no longer suffering, and the cancer that tried to take so much from him has no power where Ben is now. Scripture promises: “Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” — 1 Corinthians 15:54–55, 57 And so, while we grieve with broken hearts, we do not grieve without hope. Because of Jesus, death is not the end. This family believes in a God who keeps His promises. They believe that Jesus conquered death. They believe that this goodbye is not forever. And so, through unimaginable grief, they hold tightly to the promise of eternity and the hope that one day, they will see Ben again—whole, healed, and standing in the presence of Jesus. Until we see you again, Ben. You are deeply loved. You will be desperately missed. And you will never, ever be forgotten. Family and friends are invited to gather for calling and visitation hours on Friday, July 24, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Rutherford Funeral Home, 515 High Street, Worthington, Ohio 43085. A Celebration of Ben’s Life will be held on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at the Worthington Adventist Church, 385 E. Dublin Granville Road, Worthington, Ohio 43085. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that those wishing to honor Ben consider making a donation to support Amber, Hannah, and Henry as they navigate the days ahead. Ben was the primary financial provider for his family, and his illness and passing have created an unexpected financial burden. Any gift, prayer, or act of support is received with sincere gratitude and will help care for the family Ben worked so tirelessly to provide for and protect.

Benjamin "Ben" Christopher Boice

May 5, 1980 - July 11, 2026