Francis Benjamin Arden

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Celebrating the life of
Francis Benjamin ArdenOctober 05, 1923 - April 23, 2007

Frank B. Arden, Jr.

Frank Benjamin Arden, Jr., 83, died peacefully in Savannah on April 23 in the company of his loved ones. He was born in the Arden Family home in Ardsley Park, attended Charles Ellis Elementary School and was graduated from Savannah High School in 1943. Mr. Arden then joined the United States Navy and served in the Philippines during World War II as a flight engineer on Navy PBY aircraft.

After the war Mr. Arden went to the University of Georgia and later joined the sales staff of The Motor Supply Company, founded in 1910 by his grandfather, Lee Thompson. He joined Great Dane Trailers, Inc. in 1960 as a sales representative for the southeast territories of Georgia and South Carolina and later assumed Great Dane’s management for distributor sales throughout the United States.

When Mr. Arden retired from Great Dane in 1989, he continued as a consultant for the company’s international sales and established dealerships in Europe, the Middle East and the Mediterranean. He promoted the company’s international presence in post Cold War Russia and toured the Middle East as Great Dane’s representative for international business development sponsored by the US Department of Commerce.

Mr. Arden enjoyed traveling and gardening. He loved sports of all kinds--especially hunting and fishing. He played basketball with the Jefferson Athletic Club in the early 1950’s and was inspired as a young man under the remarkable leadership of Judge Victor B. Jenkins, Jr. He was an avid boater and golfer and was a member of the Savannah Yacht Club and the Savannah Golf Club.

Mr. Arden’s earliest ancestor in America was Francois Bouquet, of La Rochelle, France, who moved his Huguenot family to New York in 1687. Bouquet’s first-born child in the New World, Abijah, married James Arden from Arden, England who arrived in New York after leaving Dumbarton County, Scotland around 1700. Their descendants settled in Georgia in the early 1800’s.

Mr. Arden is preceded in death by his father, Frank B. Arden, his mother, Virginia Thompson Arden, his sister, Florence Virginia Arden, and his brother, Robert Coakley Arden.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Susie Miller Arden of Savannah; his son Frank B. Arden, III and his wife, Wendy, of Guyton, Georgia; his daughters Susan Arden-Joly and her husband, Christian, and Anne Santa-Rita and her husband, Ze, of Savannah; grandchildren Frank B. Arden, IV and Eleanore Arden-Joly of Savannah, and Julian Santa-Rita of Fayetteville, Arkansas, and Joao Santa-Rita of Annapolis, Maryland; an aunt, Georgia Thompson Mrs. W. Coakley of Savannah; nieces Tat Arden of Savannah, Robbin Arden Buchanan and her husband, Ron, and their children, Parker and Arden Buchanan, of Roswell, Georgia and Ginger Arden Faulkner and her husband, Richard, and their children, Griffin and Lane Faulkner, of Suffolk, Virginia.

Mr. Arden was a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church.

A visitation will be held Friday, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm, at Fox and Weeks Funeral Home, Hodgson Memorial Drive. The Reverend Gavin G. Dunbar will conduct a Funeral Service on Saturday, at 11:30 am, in St. John’s Episcopal Church on Madison Square. Burial will be in the Arden Family plot, Bonaventure Cemetery, immediately following church services.

Remembrances may be sent to St. John’s Episcopal Church, One West Macon Street, Savannah, Georgia, 31401 or to the Victor B. Jenkins, Jr. Memorial Boys Club, Inc., 6408 Waters Avenue, Savannah, Georgia, 31406.

Fox and Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel

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Mrs. Arden, Paula and I will always remember your and Mr. Arden's kindness and welcoming us at St. John's.

- Ron & Paula Walker, Tybee Island, GA

Susie, please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Frank was a very special person and will be missed. Pearce & Anne Hammond

- Pearce W. Hammond, Okatie, SC

We swapped stories and experiences together for years. I always admired his personality and handsome looks and friendliness. Jr.

- Hoke Bouchillon, Jr., Savannah, GA

Dear Ann and Zack, Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during these difficult days. Love, Stan and Diane Freeman

- Stan & Diane Freeman, Savannah,, GA

Susie, what a very special person Frank was to so many people at Great Dane Trailers. I have thought of you both often since he left here. God Bless You and Your Family in your loss.

- Gerry Stevens, HARDEEVILLE, SC

Mr. Arden holds a special place in my heart. I trained him for about 2 years at Candler Wellness Center. He will truly be missed. He was a dear friend of mine.

- Jamie Stubbs, Savannah, GA