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Ben C. Stimpson, 79, former president of Gulf Lumber Co.. Mobile. Al.. died Feb. 16 in Mobile.

Mr. Stimpson worked at his father Frederick's lumber and logging business during summers as 4 teen. After serving in the Army in the mid-1940s, he returned to the business full time. Eventually he and his brothers took charge of Ben May's Gulf Lumber Co. He became president and made it one of Alabama's largest sawmills.

In 2002 he was inducted into the Alabama Business Hall of Fame at the University of Alabama. He also served as chairman of the Southern Pine Inspection Bureau and as director of the Southern Forest Products Association and the Alabama Forest Products Association.

George Robinson "Robin" Swift, Jr., 75, former president of Swift Lumber Co., Atmore, Al., died after a long bout with cancer Jan. 2l in Atmore.

Mr. Swift started Swift Lumber Co. in the early 1950s, a second incarnation of a business originally founded by his father. He also was a state finance director, gubernatorial candidate in 1984 and served in the Army for two years during the Korean War. He served as president of the Southern Forest Products Association in 1980-81.

Mike Diebott, 33, and Anita Lumley, 53, both of Diebolt Lumber & Supply, LaHarpe, Ks., werc killed Feb. 17 when their single-engine private plane crashed near the MissouriKansas border.

Mr. Diebolt was piloting the aircraft on a business trip to St. Louis, Mo., for the lumberyard owned by his parents, Don and Susan Diebolt.

Dan Schnepf, 60, Schnepf Lumber Co., Sibley, Ia., died Feb. l3 in Sibley.

Mr. Schnepf was a police officer and a bricklayer for a short time before he joined his father, Arthur, in the family business in the mid- 1960s.

Leroy H. Vogel, 72, founder of Lee's Home Center, Millstadt, Mo., died of injuries from an auto accident while vacationing in Arizona.

Mr. Vogel began working at 13 at Sparwasser's Hardware, Millstadt, eventually buying the store when he as 27. He later renamed and renovated a local lumberyard-the current site of Lee's Home Center. ln 1911 , he and his wife, Bente, opened Hannibal True Value Hardware. He retired in 1989.

The business is now run bv four of his seven children.

Louise M. Milby, 85, co-founder and c.e.o. of William H. Milby Lumber Co.. Glenns. Va.. died Jan.25.

Mrs. Milby started the lumber firm with her husband, William, in 1961.

John Thomas Bennett Sr., 71, longtime North Carolina lumberman, died Jan. 29 in the Wayehutta Community, N.C.

Mr. Bennett was an employee with the W.C. Hennessee Lumber Co., Hammermill Hardwoods, and T&S Hardwoods, all in Jackson County, N.C. He was also the owner of Bennett's Welding Service & Saw Mill Operations. He retired in 1994.

F. William "Bill" McCandlish, 80, former business manager for Finlaw Lumber Co., Zanesville, Oh., died Jan. 24 inZanesville.

Mr. McCandlish worked at Finlaw for 32 years until the company closed its doors in the early 1980s. In the mid-1980s, he spent five years as an accountant and estimator at Ray Thomas Lumber Co., Zanesville.

He served in the Army Air Force during World War II.

Clyde ttHoot" Turner, 83, coowner of Mount Yonah Lumber Co.. Cleveland. Ga.. died Feb. 4 in Gainesville, Ga.

Mr. Turner was both a businessman and a politician. He was founder of Mount Yonah Lumber Co., and was a former county commission chairman.

He was also a World War II veteran, serving in the Philippine Islands.

Richard C. Hannibal. 81. owner of Hannibal True Value Hardware, York, Pa., died Jan. 23.

Mr. Hannibal earned an MBA from New York University and managed several companies.

Joseph Anthony Beaulieu, 43, director of millwork purchasing and the export sales department at Deerfield Builders Supply, Deerfield Beach, Fl., died Jan. 30.

A native of Boca Raton, FI., he worked at the company fbr l9 years.