Mr. Benjamin W. Herndon, Jr., age 85, of Jefferson, passed away Monday afternoon, June 1, 2009 at Ashe Memorial Hospital. Graveside service and burial will be held on Wednesday, June 3, 2009 at 12:00 p.m. noon at the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery in Black Mountain, NC with military honors. Mr. Herndon was born in Richmond County, NC on Saturday, May 31, 1924 to the late Benjamin Wallace, Sr. and Meta Ellen Moore Hendron. He is survived by his wife, June Kivett Herndon; one step-son, Scott Apple and wife, Toni of the Grand Cayman Islands; one daughter, Denise Herndon Lyons and husband, Mark of Denver, NC. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: High Country Health Care Hospice, PO Box 421, Jefferson, NC 28640, Ashe Humane Society, P.O. Box 1776, West Jefferson, NC 28694 or to a charity of the donor's choice.