Independence – Benny E. Woolley, 83 years old, of Independence, Iowa, died peacefully on May 8, 2021, at Thousen Cottage of the Western Home in Cedar Falls from complications of Alzheimer’s. He was born on the family farm near Leon on March 19, 1938, the son of Cecil and Geraldine (Walker) Woolley. He graduated from the Leon High School with the Class of 1957. Ben attended Central College in Pella, Iowa, for two years and finished his degree in Industrial Arts and a minor in music at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, MO. He taught music in Missouri before coming to Independence to teach drafting. After he retired from teaching, he worked for Dave’s Cabinet Shop for several years. Ben married Marcia Stewart in 1969. The met on a blind date arranged by Harold (a former student) and Marilyn Freeman. They were married over 51 years.