A longtime resident of Jefferson County, WV, Ben Keesler was born in Annapolis, MD on May 22, 1978 and died in Ranson, WV on July 24, 2026. He was 47. He was preceded in death by his grandfather Merle Keesler, grandmother K. Elizabeth Blevins, and uncle Leonard Mihalko.

Ben grew up in Laurel and Westminster, MD and graduated from Westminster High School. He attended the University of Maryland for several years. He was fiercely loyal to his friends, and was taught the blacksmith/farrier trade by Kevin Meehan prior to working at the racetracks at Pimlico and Charles Town. He genuinely loved his trade and took pride in his workmanship with horses.

Prior to his blacksmith trade, he was a talented cook and sous-chef, working in numerous restaurants in the Howard County, MD area.

Ben loved horses, large dogs, fishing and crabbing.

Ben is survived by his parents Dorothy L. Keesler and Howard P. Keesler, his sister Jennifer A. Cordrey, her sons Aaron Keesler, William Cordrey, and Matthew Cordrey. Also surviving are his grandmother Margaret Anne Keesler, uncles Michael Kalasanckas and Wayne Luyster, aunts Barbara Mihalko, Lori Goldberg, and Sharon Gilman. He also had a number of nephews and a niece scattered about the U.S. and Australia.

A memorial service is expected to be held in Cape Coral, FL, but the date is unknown at this time.