Benjamin W. Alderson

Monday, June 8, 1998

Benjamin W. Alderson

Local singer during big band era
Benjamin Warren Alderson Jr., 85, of Titusville, Fla., died Friday, June 5, 1998, in Florida.

He was born in April 16, 1913, in Midland, a son of Benjamin W. Alderson Sr. and Mary Lowther Alderson.
Mr. Alderson he was a 1931 graduate of Canonsburg High School.
At the age of 19, Mr. Alderson and Joe Carson won Major Bowes Amateur Hour with their singing and were awarded the first place prize of a ladies Elgin wrist watch. They had a dance band for many years around the tri state area and initiated the "Vocal Aires" which specialized in four part harmony then played base fiddle, and sang with many of the great names of the "Big Band Era" including his friend, Perry Como.
During the war, Mr. Alderson worked at the Budkey Mill and then worked for Logan Dickerson which erected the original bridges on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. He joined the outfit of Patterson Construction Company and worked with them until joining Chicago based Ragnar Benson Inc. and was then a stockholder and Vice President of J. G. Kassab Inc. until 1962, when it was taken over by Noble J. Dick Inc. and emerged as Dick Corporation, where he handled the real estate and the accounting for the construction company.
Mr. Alderson was a lifetime honorary member of the Musician's Protective Union Local 509 of Canonsburg, was a 32nd degree Mason of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, the Bahia Temple of Orlando, Fla., Chartiers Lodge 297, F.&A.M., a member of Washington County Club for many years and served on its Board of Directors as well as serving on the Chartiers Township School Board, he was a lifetime member of Bent Oak County Club, upon his retirement in 1976, he moved to Titusville, where he enjoyed golfing, fishing and traveling.
Surviving are his wife of 22 years, Helen Lapensky Alderson; a sister, Lois Adams of Titusville, Fla; a son, Benjamin Alderson III of Marietta, Ga.; two daughters, Kate Alderson Stenger of Canton, Ga., and Betty Alderson Blazey of Kansas City, Mo.; and three grandchildren, Larry Dean Stenger, Alyssa Ann and Joshua Benjamin Alderson;
Deceased are two brothers, John and William H. Alderson; a sister, Clara Alderson Bissell; and his first wife, Julia Suska who died in 1972.