Benjamin Andrew Quillen
July 21, 1981 - January 17, 1999
A sinner saved by God's grace.

Cause of Death

Without any warning, Ben died in his bed at home at approximately 5:30am, Sunday, January 17, 1999 A.D. Attempts were made to revive him at home by Emergency Medical Technicians but his heart had stopped and would not restart. An autopsy was performed by the pathologist Dr. Ellington at Blount Memorial Hospital who reported that the only abnormal finding was an enlarged heart condition which may have been caused by the dying process itself. There were no signs of trauma or body marks. Dr. Ellington said tissue analysis revealed no alcohol or drugs present. Abnormal heart rhythm, or a weakened heart condition caused by a virus were possible causes. Ben's only possible symptons were occassional dizziness after rapidly sitting up, a low but normal blood pressure, and, on Friday, he lost his balance jogging and tore his sweat shirt on a mailbox. He did have a stomach virus in December and reported a very brief episode of chest and back pain in early January which went away. Ben had a calm nature and was not physically overactive, so Athlete's heart sudden death condition may not relate. Ben never used alcohol, tobacco, or drugs. Burial: Ben's earthly body, clothed in his Junior ROTC uniform, was placed in a simple dark blue coffin for burial. Military honors were performed at the gravesite at Grandview Cemetery's Veterans Park.

Obituary

c/Major Benjamin Andrew Quillen, age 17, of Maryville, TN, died suddenly on the Lords Day, January 17, 1999. Born in Greenville, SC on July 21, 1981, Ben worshiped Jesus Christ, his confessed Lord and Savior, at Maryville Evangelical Church, Presbyterian Church in America. A participant in YoungLife, FCA and active in church youth activities, Ben was a Junior at William Blount High School, active in the Junior Air Force ROTC, cadet commander of the Kitty Hawk Air Society, TN Air National Guard Blue Skies program, selectee for the Tennessee Heritage Governor's School in 1998, Who's Who, 1997 Youth Leadership Blount, and a member of the McGhee-Tyson Civil Air Patrol. His first school was Taylor's 1st Baptist Church K3-K6 program, Taylors, SC. After he graduated from Buena Vista Elementary School in Greer, SC, Ben was home-schooled during the middle school years. He loved military flying, legos, frisbee golf, paintball and had taken five soaring lessons. Punting a football had just become a routine acitivity this past fall. Ben lived out his faith and was known for his wit, and for his gentle, caring, kind and genuine spirit. He was a good listener and an obedient son. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather and brother-in-Christ, Warner Pridemore Quillen, Jr.

Survivors include his mother, Lois Levenduski Quillen, his father, Allen Ernest Quillen, and his older brother, Christopher Allen Quillen, age 20, of the home in Maryville. Ben leaves behind paternal grandmother, Dahlia Bentley Quillen, of Knoxville and maternal grandparents, Charles and Rosellen Levenduski of Orlando, FL, five aunts and one uncle (with eight cousins): Mrs. Joan Mason (Mary Katherine), Marietta, GA; Mrs. Barbara Shoemaker (Pete, Boolie, Abby), Oneida, TN; Mrs. Dorothy Petrone (Michael, Emily, Nick), Knoxville, TN; Mrs. Mary Skibo, San Diego, CA; Miss Beth Levenduski and Mr. Chuck Levenduski (Charlie), both of Orlando, FL.

An estimated 500 people attended his funeral service which were held at the William Blount High School auditorium, 219 County Farm Road, at 7pm, Tuesday, January 19, 1999. Ben's pastor, the Rev. Russ Sukhia, officiating. Ben's other key spiritual mentors, the Rev. Jeff Wadley, Minister of Youth at Fairview UMC, and the Rev. Tim Teague, Blount County YoungLife Director, participated. The William Blount High School chorus, directed by Mrs. LeAnne Mynatt, and Miss Elisa Thomas, Soloist, offered musical tributes. Burial service with full military honors was provided by the William Blount High School Junior ROTC at 10:00am, Wednesday, January 20, 1999 at the Grandview Cemetery, 2304 Tuckaleechee Pike, Maryville.

Memorial donations are requested and should be made to the memorial scholarship fund in memory of Benjamin Andrew Quillen, c/o President's Office, Covenant College, 14049 Scenic Highway, Lookout Mountain, Georgia 30750.

Jesus said, "You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give to you. This I command you, that you love one another." John 15:16-17.