Benjamin A. Ranck M.D.

SERVICES:  A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015, at First United Methodist Church. There will be no calling.OFFICIATING:  Rev. Howard Boles MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS:  Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church Missions or Our Hospice of South Central Indiana.Dr. Benjamin Albert Ranck of Columbus, Indiana, answered the final house call he was to take this past Monday, the 30th of November, 2015. As he prepared his medical bag he smiled, for Gentle Ben knew that all would be good in the life he had so beautifully built. He had done much on the journey he had taken here on Earth, remembering fondly how he had nearly missed his calling to be the amazing physician he had become, to remain the basketball coach at New Castle High School. Dr. Ranck would be leaving behind many beloved people in his stead, Esther, his treasured wife, his loving children Melissa, Allyson and Andrew as well as the many people he had cared for as a physician, a teacher and a friend. He is esteemed and rememberd by many for his dedication and work with Our Hospice of South Central Indiana, which he had helped to bring to fruition. Then came the memories of those he was soon to meet again, Christopher, his son, his granddaughter, Molly, his own parents, as well as many more that would surely be in attendance behind this coming door. As the time grew near for Ben to embark on this very important call, he quietly turned to those he would be leaving behind and simply said, “It has been my privilege.” At long last, the door swung open and he readily stepped over the threshold with a gracious peacefulness that was his very nature. Benjamin Ranck was born in Richmond, Indiana, on October 27th, 1927, to George Sr. and Inez Ranck. He was the middle child with an older sister, Alice Mary, and younger brother, George Jr. He graduated from Fountain City High School at the age of 16. He went on to pursue degrees from Earlham, Ball State and IU Medical School. While attending IU, he became a member of Delta Tau Delta and the Dean’s Council, as well as being inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha Academic Excellence Society. It was during his studies at IU that he met Esther Allisbaugh. In 1956 Ben and Esther were married and moved to Speedway for him to complete his medical studies. Upon completion of his internship in Gary, Indiana, Ben, Esther and their friends Charlie and Joann Rau decided to open up a family practice together in Columbus, Indiana. Forest Daugherty joined the practice soon after. In just a few short years their first location had become too small and they decided to break ground on a new facility. The new facility was located just off of a small sand pile, hence Sandcrest Medical Corporation was born. They were a staple of the community, providing over 50 years of care for over 35,000 patients. He never looked at the practice of medicine as a job, he believed it was a privilege to care for the physical and emotional welfare of others. It was during the these early years that Ben and Esther began their family and soon there were four new additions, Melissa, Christopher, Allyson and Andrew. He fostered the same loving, compassionate gentleness that he had exhibited throughout his life in each of his children. Always encouraging and supporting them in all their life choices, never judging, never giving up. Weekends were filled with swim meets and hockey games and summers were laden with some new family adventure. Ever the prankster, he seemed to always come home with a new joke or magic trick to show them, even laughing (albeit uncomfortably) when one of them decided to put the itching powder on top of his head. Ben and Esther were blessed with several grandchildren over the years, Hunter, Molly and Casey Smith (Melissa), Shiloh and Jude Ranck (Christopher), and Benjamin, Samantha, Christopher and Andrew Black (Allyson). Again, summers were spent leisurely walking the beaches at Pawley’s Island and building “toppling” human pyramids. Ben and Esther always made sure to head off to exotic excursions together, whether it be on safari in Africa or hiking all over the world with the Wilderness Wanderers, setting an example for not only their children but their grandchildren that you should never be afraid to try new things or go to new places. In 1980, Dr. Ranck began a journey into what he would later look back on as a pivotal moment in his medical career. He embarked on a mission to bring Hospice to Indiana. It was during this journey that he truly understood that it is not just about caring for the living, it is also about caring for the emotional and spiritual struggles involved in the process of dying. He took this responsibility very seriously and alongside Sandy Carmichael dedicated the next 33 years of his life to helping the patients and loved ones through this phase of their lives. He spent 28 of those 33 year as Medical Director of Our Hospice of South Central Indiana, always learning, always teaching. His genuine care and concern along with his uncanny ability to really listen to others allowed him the opportunity, or as he would say it, “the privilege” of caring for the physical, spiritual and emotional well-being of others. For those of you who appreciated the amazing strength of Dr. Ben and would like to celebrate the memories you have shared with the Doctor, the Husband, the Father and the Friend, please join us on December 19th at 1:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church for a service in his honor. Thank you to all those that visited him in his last days and to the staff at Our Hospice for helping him pass with the dignity and peace that he had afforded so many that had gone before him.