Benson J. Lamp, PhD, PE

Benson J. Lamp, PhD, PE, age 86, Professor Emeritus of The Ohio State University, died Friday, September 14, 2012 at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus. He grew up in Franklin County, Ohio and entered the United States Army Air Corps at the age of 18. He attained the rank of 2nd Lt. (Navigator) and was honorably discharged on VJ Day in 1945. Benson was a graduate of The Ohio State University and earned his PhD at Michigan State University in Agricultural Engineering with a minor in Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Mechanics. He started his career as a professor of Agricultural Engineering at The Ohio State University. His career included employment with Massey Ferguson, Ford Motor Tractor and Ford Aerospace where he was vice-president. He made many trips to China to establish business with Ford Motor Company and the Chinese government. After retiring from industry in 1987, he returned as a professor at Ohio State and received many professional awards: Professor of the Year, Distinguished Alumnus at both OSU and MSU; and recipient of the McCormack Case Gold Medal from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE). Dr. Lamp was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho, Tau Beta Pi, Gamma Sigma Delta, Sigma Zi, was a fellow of ASABE where he would serve as President 1995-96. He was later inducted into the National Academy of Engineering of the United States in 1998 and was named Professor Emeritus at Ohio State. He later established the Lamp Scholarship at Ohio State in honor of his parents, Benson and Ruth Lamp, which has assisted many students with their engineering educations. After retirement, he started a small family business, BJM, Inc., which grew into a real estate and farming business. A resident of Dublin, Ohio for the past 27 years, he enjoyed golf, bridge, tennis and attending OSU football games and spending time on his farm in Circleville. Ben and Jane enjoyed travelling to visit their children and grandchildren and to their vacation homes in Venice, FL and Hilton Head Island. A beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Benson is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Martha Jane; his children: Elaine (Jim) Yarbrough of Peachtree City, GA; Marlene (Steve) Soule of Ventura, CA; Linda (Bill) Connor of East Lansing, MI; and Dave (Denise) Lamp of Southlake, TX; his grandchildren: Robb (Melissa) Yarbrough, Jamie (Matthew) Fearrington, Katie (Derek) Walton, Matthew Connor, Julie (Mike) Warren, Erik Soule, Ellen Connor, David Lamp, Olivia Soule and Lauren Connor; great-grandson Connor Warren; brothers Wilbur and Russell; sisters-in-law Joan Motz and Joanne Lamp; and many friends. He is preceded in death by his parents Benson and Ruth Lamp and brother, Harold. Visitation will be 2-4 p.m. SUNDAY, September 16, 2012 at the RUTHERFORD FUNERAL HOME AT POWELL, 450 W. Olentangy St. (Powell Rd./St. Rt. 750/1/4 mile east of Sawmill Pkwy) Powell, OH 43065 where a Memorial Service will be held 2:00 p.m. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2012. A reception will follow the service at The Country Club at Muirfield Village, 8715 Muirfield Drive Dublin, OH 43017. The Lamp Family requests those wishing to make contributions in Dr. Lamp’s memory may do so to: The Lamp Scholarship in Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering (Fund #603912) at The Ohio State University, 2120 Fyffe Road, Columbus, OH 43210. Please visit www.rutherfordfuneralhomes.com to send condolences to Dr. Lamp’s family.