HIERONYMUS, DR. BEN T., 94, passed to eternal life on Saturday, November 29, 2008, at home, surrounded by his family. He was one of 12 children raised on a farm in Lee Co., KY, on the Middle Fork of the Kentucky River. After graduating from Western Ky. Teachers College in 1936, he began his life journey, first selling encyclopedias and Bibles door-to-door, which led him to West Virginia, where he managed an apple orchard. From there, with a friend, he worked his way to Texas, with a sojourn in New Orleans where he worked as a waiter in a night club. In Texas, he married Helen Vincent (deceased 1943) and worked in the oil fields, rising from roughneck to manager. He joined the Navy in 1942, serving as a communications officer on an LST in the South Pacific. He was among the first to land in Tokyo after Japan's surrender. After the war he returned to Kentucky where he met and married Helen Davis in 1947. He entered U of L Dental School, graduating third in his class, in 1951. ! Moving to Somerset, KY, because of its proximity to Lake Cumberland, he began his dental practice of 41 years, retiring at age 78. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, fishing from Acapulco to the Arctic Circle, and a member of the Pulaski Co. Outdoorsmen's Club and its skeet team. He also enjoyed gardening and farming, where he raised registered beef cattle. He and Helen loved travel and visited over 70 countries around the globe. They visited every continent except Antarctica, which he said was "just too cold." He was member of the First United Methodist Church where he served in many capacities, including as a Sunday School teacher for over 50 years. He was a past president of Rotary, a Paul Harris Fellow, past-president of the So. Central Dental Society, founding member and president of Ky. Dental Supply and a life-long member of the Ky. Dental Association. All who knew him recognized him as the perfect gentleman. He is survived by Helen, his wife of 61 years, his child! ren Janie Hail and husband John, their children and grandchildren Luke and wife Missy, Ben, Kate, Jenna and Jacie Hail and Sarah and husband Dave and Michael and Joe Gaddis, Thom and wife Ellen and Gavin and Becca (and husband Mike) Thomas and Briston; Dr. Steven and wife Mary and Molly (and husband Jason) and Mia and Addison Maguire and Dr. Jill (and husband Bo) Cook. He is survived by his brothers Paul and wife Margaret Hieronymus of Annandale, VA and Jack and his wife Florence of Indianapolis, IN and a host of nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends. Visitation will be Monday, December 1, 2008 after 5 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, Somerset. The funeral will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, with interment in the Hieronymus Family Cemetery in Lee Co. Graveside service will be 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. A memorial fund has been established at the First United Methodist Church in his memory. Somerset Undertaking is in charge of all arrangements. Condolences may be expressed to the Hieronymus family at www.somersetundertaking.com Published in The Courier-Journal on 12/1/2008