Dr. Ben J. Guilbeau, 89 years old, passed away Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022, after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was born on Sept. 6, 1933, to Dr. Ben and Natolia Castille Guilbeau in Sunset, La.
Dr. Guilbeau was valedictorian of his graduating class at Sunset High School. He went on to graduate from the University of Southwestern Louisiana. He received his medical degree from LSU in New Orleans and completed his internship at Charity Hospital there. He completed his family practice residency at Lafayette Charity Hospital. He went on to practice medicine in Lake Charles for 50 years. He was an old school family doctor who cared for multiple generations from delivery to adulthood.
Ben served the Mid-City Little League for nine years as a dedicated coach and as league president. He was the first medical director of Lake Charles Memorial Hospital and served for thirty years on its Board of Directors. He was a member of the Krewe of Contraband, the Pioneer Club, and the Lake Charles Country Club since 1963. He truly enjoyed spending time with his Lake Charles Country Club golf group and his 19th Hole card buddies.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 58 ½ years, Joanna Bertrand Guilbeau; his son, Ben Guilbeau Jr. (Jill); his daughters, Tracie Wilfer (Randy Jr.), Cheryl Guilbeau and Lisa Derrick; his grandchildren, Sara Guarino (Nick), Emily Guilbeau, Blaine Derrick (Gabby), Benjamin Guilbeau III, Rachel Guilbeau, Katie Wilfer and Kyle Wilfer; his great-granddaughter, Sage Alma Guilbeau; his sister, Alida Martin (Butch) and sister-in-law, Susan Simmons.
He was preceded in death by his parents; four sisters, Wilhelmina Savoie, Corinne Huter, Sally Splane and Jeanne Miller; and one brother, Baker Guilbeau.
His funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022, in the Johnson Funeral Home of Lake Charles Chapel. Msgr. Jace Eskind will preside. Burial will follow in Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home. Visitation will be at the funeral home from 8:30 a.m. until the start of the service at 11 a.m.
The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. R. Craig Broussard, Heart of Hospice and sitters, Jackie Vital and Charletta Byrd, for their compassionate care.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Nicholas Center for Children at www.stnickcenter.org.
Words of comfort to the family may be expressed at www.johnsonfuneralhome.net.