Philip Eglin Benton Jr. ’52

Philip Eglin Benton Jr. ’52 passed away at home on June 14, 2015. He was born on December 31, 1928, in Charlottesville, Virginia. Philip started high school in Connecticut, but graduated from Tabor Academy in Marion, Massachusetts. Philip then enlisted in the Marine Corps and was honorably discharged in 1948. He entered Dartmouth and graduated in 1952 magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, a Tuck major and member of Phi Sigma Kappa. In 1996 the Tuck overseers awarded Philip the Overseers Medal, recognizing his service to the school. During college he married Bernice Brennan and had his two oldest daughters. They later had two more children together. Bernice passed away in 1975. Philip later married Mary Ann Ward and adopted her two daughters. In 1953 he joined the Ford Motor Co. as a cost analyst. He steadily rose through the ranks until he became the president and COO of Ford. He retired in 1992 after nearly 40 years with the company. In retirement, he became associated with the Cape Cod Healthcare Foundation that made great strides in promoting the excellence of Cape Cod Hospital. Additionally, he was involved with the Orleans, Massachusetts Conservation Trust that purchases land to be preserved ad infinitum. Philip is survived by his wife, Mary Ann; sister Ann; children Katharine (and her husband, David), Deborah Benton, Deborah Ward (and her husband, Ben), Cynthia, Philip III and Paula; 14 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.