Stay Connected: RSS | Email Alerts | Mobile & iPhone
Print this Story
Set Text Size SmallSet Text Size MediumSet Text Size LargeSet Text Size X-Large

Hundreds attend service for Lakeland man killed by lighting

Reported by: Elizabeth Dinh
Email: edinh@wfts.com
Contributor: Chad Cookler
Last Update: 7/06/2009 6:42 am
LAKELAND, FL -- Members of Lakeland's Maranatha Baptist Church brought their bibles to Sunday's service, as usual. But one difference this week: at one point, it got so crowded, ushers went to get more chairs, as more people arrived for the special, impromtu service honoring 29-year-old Benjamin Gonzalez.

Jose Gonzalez, the oldest of Benjamin's five siblings also attended the service. Jose is a pastor for Lakeland's Cornerstone Baptist Church, and told ABC Action News that the Gonzalez family has dedicated their lives to their respective Baptist congregations. Benjamin was no different. "Although he never married, he lived a pretty happy life. He lived for his family, he lived for his work, he lived for his church," Jose said.

Saturday afternoon, Benjamin was doing what he loved - playing soccer - on a field, just blocks away from the church. He and hundreds of other church members were there celebrating Independence Day when a lighting strike hit. 27 others were hurt , 18 needed to go to the hospital. Benjamin collapsed on the field.

Loved ones say they remember Benjamin as an outgoing guy who loved playing sports. Jose says his little brother had an injured hamstring and wasn't even supposed to be playing soccer on Saturday. "He came over and my dad told him not to play and he was supposed to sit in the sidelines but, to our surprise, he played," Jose told us. 

Benjamin's family founded the Maranatha Baptist Church and his Jose said during Ben's short time here, he probably set some of his life's goals, including helping others at his congregation.

More Tampa Bay News
Deputies:Suspect robbed clerk with broken bottle
Detectives say a Dunedin man used a broken beer bottle to rob a McDonald's employee late Friday night.
Teen arrested in Tampa purse snatchings
The parents of a teenager suspected in a string of purse snatchings turned him in after seeing him in on the news, according to Tampa Police. Video Video
Family remembers murdered girl on her 19th birthday
Family members gathered for a somber celebration to remember Amanda Brown, 12 years after her death. Video Video
Plant City Police investigate three shootings
Detectives aren't saying if the shootings which happened within an hour and several miles of each other, are related.
Class gets Weather-Schooled
Bill Logan talks to kids about the weather Video Video


Family remembers murdered girl on her 19th birthday
Family members gathered for a somber celebration to remember Amanda Brown, 12 years after her death.
Accu-Weather Forecast
Bill Logan visits a bay area school and talks about weather forecasting
Bill Logan visits a bay area school and talks about weather forecasting
  This site is hosted and managed by Inergize Digital.