Ben Sargent served the Texas Cushman Club in many capacities. President 2012-2014, Board of Directors, and Wagon Master for the State Meets. He received the Founder’s Award in 2004.

June 30, 2022

BENJAMIN EUGENE SARGENT

Benjamin Eugene Sargent, (78), of Carlsbad, Texas, passed away on June 30, 2022, after losing his second battle with cancer. 

Ben was born in Fort Worth, Texas to B.H. and Wilma Sargent. He grew up with brothers Douglas and Delroy and his favorite sister Beth. As a teen, he loved spending his time riding his Cushman. This sparked his lifelong passion for scooters. As he got older, he became a bit of a traveling man. At 17 he joined the Navy and traveled the world. Leaving the Navy as a Chief Petty Officer, he enlisted in the US Coast Guard, retiring as Chief Warrant Officer II in 1982.

In his youth he met and married Anita Register (deceased) of Saint Augustine, FL. They immediately started a family, complete with Benita, Debbie, and Carol. As a family they loved to travel. Ben and Anita eventually traveled apart, changing Ben’s path to meet his current wife, Gene and her sons Johnny and Charlie of Greenville, MS. This chapter of his life was filled with lots of camping, fishing, making homemade ice cream, active in his church, president of the Water Board, treasurer of Carlsbad Volunteer Fire Department, delivered Meals for the Elderly, president of the Concho Valley Cushman Club from 2012-2014, and District Grand Master of Phill Head Masonic Lodge 1415 from 1987-1988.

In addition to his wife, Eugenia (Gene) of 49 years, he is survived by his sister Beth Duarte & husband J.A. of San Antonio; children, Johnny Rivers & his wife Christina of Weaver, AL, Benita Romo & ex-husband Carlos of San Angelo, Debbie Taylor & her husband Johnny of Lobelville, TN, Charlie Rivers & wife Alisha of Grape Creek, Carol Wyatt & husband David of San Angelo; grandchildren Kimberly Rivers of ID, Jonathan & wife Brittany of AL, Cody & wife Kristin of AL, Jacob & Christian of AL, Melissa Russo & husband Jason of Dubai, UAE, Jennifer & husband Tyler of Water Valley, Chris Clardy-Rivers & wife Amanda of Gardendale, MaKinna & Taigan Rivers of Grape Creek; 9 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in passing by his parents B.H. and Wilma Sargent, brothers Douglas and Delroy McCain. 

The funeral service will be held at Grape Creek Baptist Church, 9781 Grape Creek Road, San Angelo TX on Tuesday, July 5, 2022 at 2:00pm. There will be visitation at the same location beginning at 9:00am. His family will be present to welcome loved ones. 

Ben always said, “don’t waste money on flowers”. Use that money to fill up your tank and take a trip, buy some ice cream, get some scooter parts, have a fish fry, and enjoy family time.

Personal Note: we all have Ben stories. Mine started at Water Valley in 1995. We were new to the scooter club. Ben had a wreck on his scooter and was taken to the hospital. Their friends loaded the wrecked scooter and made sure it got home. Then the travel trailer was moved back home by these same friends. Next event was when Roy Stanley’s scooter was stolen. Ben began the act of helping get Roy riding again by “stealing” Roy’s rolling chassis and getting all the friends together to replace the scooter using their spare parts and time.

I wanted friends as good as this man had! Cushman people are a special bunch. I’ve seen attendances at funerals, serving hearts during troubled times, and just the fun that people of common interest share.

Raymond and I were very fortunate to share times and our lives with Ben and Gene. Our love and condolences to Gene and his family.