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Ben O'Brien Mangrem, 97, passed from this life to rest in the arms of his Savior, Friday, March 8, 2019 peacefully at his residence. He had a beautiful smile even on his last days for family and friends.\r\n\r\nHe was born in Wichita Falls, Texas on February 10, 1922 to C.V. Mangrem and Zada Adams Mangrem.\r\n\r\nBen graduated from Wichita Falls High School and attended Midwestern College. When just nineteen years old, he owned his own gasoline station where he met his lifelong sweetheart, Dorothy Holtzclaw. The couple was married February 8, 1942 in Dorothy's parents' home and recently celebrated their 77th wedding anniversary. They have one daughter, Donna Houston of Kerrville.\r\n\r\nAfter serving two years in the U.S. Army during WWII, the couple eventually moved to Dallas where they were longtime residents for forty-eight years.\r\n\r\nBen owned Ben Mangrem Homes and built more than 200 spec and custom homes in the Dallas area before retiring and moving to Kerrville in 1994 to be closer to their daughter, Donna and her family.\r\n\r\nBeing a Christian example to family and friends was a priority to Ben. He led many to Christ by his example, teaching Bible classes, by his generous support to young Church of Christ ministers and various missionaries around the world, as well as helping those in need. He served as an elder for many years at the Cockrell Hill Church of Christ in Dallas. He loved attending church pot lucks, game nights, visiting friends and family, and a good game of "42". Until eighteen months ago, he and Dorothy played dominoes with neighbors every Thursday night for 13 years.\r\n\r\nBen was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Pauline Avery, and brother, C.V. Mangrem Jr.\r\n\r\nBen's family was the love of his life and his priceless example of a loving marriage and strong faith in God served as shining beacons to his survivors: Wife, Dorothy Mangrem; daughter, Donna Houston and James, Kerrville. Grandchildren: David Houston and Angie, Round Rock; Mark O'Brien Houston and Angela, Ft. Worth; Amy Ahrens and Chad, Kerrville; and Philip Houston and Heidi, Sugar Land. Great grandchildren: Hunter Houston, Ava Houston, Macy Houston, Hattie Ahrens, Harper Houston, Cole O'Brien Houston, Anderson Ahrens, Lexi Houston, and Nathan Houston.\r\n\r\nA special thanks to Ben's care givers, Jodi Gerald and more recently, Rosa Salazar, who lovingly cared for him as his health declined. Both were sent to his family as an extra blessing from God.\r\n\r\nVisitation will be from 5-7p.m. Friday, March 15 at Grimes Funeral Chapels.\r\n\r\nFuneral services, officiated by Jimmy Sportsman, will be Saturday, March 16 at 2:00 p.m. at the Kerrville Church of Christ where he and Dorothy were members for the last twenty-four years. Interment will follow at Garden of Memories.\r\nPallbearers will be David Houston, Mark Houston, Philip Houston, Chad Ahrens, Paul Phipps, and Alan Clarke.\r\n\r\nHonorary pallbearers are his special caring neighbors Alvin Neal, Chuck Brundrett, Mark White, and Dr. John Davis, Bens friend and physician.\r\n\r\nDonations in memory of Ben may be made to Arms of Hope, 21300 TX-16, Medina, TX 78055.