Benjamin Lanier (Benny) Shires, 75, of 13503 Potts Creek Road, Paint Bank, Virginia, died Friday, April 29, 2016, at his residence.

He was born May 22, 1940, in Craig County, a son of the late Percy Clifford Shires and Sonya Webb Shires.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his first wife, Joyce Rock Shires, in 2006; a son, Benjamin Shires, Jr., four brothers and four sisters.

Benny was an avid outdoorsman and became especially excited during bear season.

He was a retired equipment operator, having worked for many years with Teddy Dressler & Sons Excavating Contractors in Covington and at Hollow Hill Farm in Paint Bank.

Surviving are his wife, Anne Campbell Shires of Paint Bank; four children, Gary and Dana Shires of Paint Bank; Karen and Fudd Crush of New Castle; Teresa Shires of Paint Bank and J.C. and Amanda Shires of Paint Bank; eight grandchildren, seven great grandchildren; four step sons, Joey Campbell, Danny Campbell, Donald and Angie Campbell and Tommy and Tammy Campbell all of Waynesboro; seven step grandchildren; one brother, Garland Shires of Orlando, FL; one sister, Mary Swingle of New Castle; two special honorary sons, Curtis Linton and Jim Arthur and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

The funeral service will be held Friday, May 6, 2016, at 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Arritt Funeral Home.

Interment will be made in the Paint Bank Community Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Thursday evening from 7:00 until 8:30 p.m. at Arritt Funeral Home in Covington.