Ben Miller Meares, Sr., MD

Dr. Ben Miller Meares, Sr. (1938-2026) 

Dr. Ben Miller Meares, Sr., was born February 6, 1938, in Anderson, South Carolina, to George and Mary Meares, the second of four brothers. While his father was serving in World War II, he lived with his mother and older brother at his maternal grandparents’ home in Hickory Grove, SC. During this time, he accompanied his country doctor grandfather, Dr. Benjamin Neely Miller, Sr., on house calls, inspiring him to pursue a career in medicine. He went on to graduate from Dreher High School (1956), the University of South Carolina (1960), and the Medical University of South Carolina (1964), completing his residency in radiology at Duke University. After serving two years in the Army (Indianapolis and Vietnam), he and his family moved to Raleigh in 1970, where he spent the rest of his life. He joined Wake Radiology in 1970, where he was a partner until his retirement in 1997. He became a member of West Raleigh Presbyterian Church in 1970, serving as an Elder and Deacon as well as on multiple committees. He and Katherine worked as volunteers at the National Fellowship and the National Prayer Breakfast for two decades, welcoming visitors from around the world to Washington, D.C. They became part of the Springmoor community in 2017. 

Ben loved a good story or pun, bow ties, banjo music, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, golf, antique cars, watching sports on TV, and cheering for his grandchildren in all their activities. Ben was always curious and loved to learn about everything, whether it was theology, medicine, or people. By the time he retired from clinical practice, he knew the names and stories of most of the people he passed in the hallways of WakeMed Hospital, from the physicians to the custodians. His legacy lives on in his children and grandchildren, many of whom have followed him into the medical profession or public service. He loved telling stories right up until the very end. He was deeply loved and will be sorely missed. 

Survivors include his high school sweetheart and wife of 21 and 37 years, Katherine Cardwell Meares; children Mary Meares, Ben, Jr. (Laurie), and Katherine “Kitty” Kruse (Dave); seven grandchildren: Ben Miller Meares, III (Jordan), Michael Meares (Taylor), Kate Meares, Mathis Meares, Bailey Kruse (Garison DeJarnette), Cal Kruse, and Matthew Kruse; and his half-brother, Georges Fensie. He was predeceased by his parents and his brothers George, William, and Milton. 

A memorial service will be held at West Raleigh Presbyterian Church (27 Horne Street, Raleigh) on Saturday, November 21, 2027, at 1 p.m. All men who attend are asked to wear a bow tie in Ben’s honor. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to West Raleigh Presbyterian Church (https://www.westraleighpres.org/) or the Springmoor Endowment Fund (https://springmoor.org/about-us/endowment-fund/).