Benjamin Wiltbank, 65
MILTON, Del. - Benjamin Wiltbank passed away on December 1, 2021.
Ben was born and raised in Lewes, Delaware. Ben graduated from Cape Henlopen High School in 1975. He earned an Associate's degree from Community College of Baltimore in 1977, the same year he was drafted to be a pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Ben remained a pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates until 1983. After Ben's professional baseball career ended, he formed Ross Associates, a mortgage brokerage/lending firm which served Delaware and Maryland. Despite finding success and breaking down barriers in his field, Ben's heart always remained with baseball. Ben helped to form Delaware's first travel baseball team. He trained athletes at Delaware Tech and Cape Henlopen School District. Since 2002, Ben has worked as a private coach. He devoted his life to baseball, serving as a coach and mentor to Delaware athletes. In 2005, Ben was inducted into Eastern Shore Hall of Fame and in 2017 was inducted into the Delaware Afro American Sports Hall of Fame.
Ben was preceded in death by his parents, Arlington Wiltbank, Sr. and Louise Stanley-Wiltbank; brothers, Arlington Jr., Gilbert, William; sisters, Claudette, Claudia; and his nephew, Glen.
Ben is survived by his wife of 42 years, Juanita Satchell-Wiltbank; daughter and son-in-law, Contrell and Henry Fowler, of Orlando, Florida; grandsons, Adrian, Dorian, Aaron, and Ethan; his sister and brother-in-law, Kathleen and Rev. Thomas Brown, Sr. of Ellendale, Delaware; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A private memorial service will be held for family and close friends at 2 p.m., Saturday, January 15, 2022 at Evan W Smith Funeral Services, 518 S. Bay Rd., Dover, Delaware 19901.
Evan W. Smith Funeral Services
www.ewsmithfs.com