Benjamin Ryan Putnam

Benjamin Ryan Putnam, age 24, of Groton, Connecticut died Sunday, May 15, 2011 while serving in the United States Coast Guard in New London, Connecticut.

Military funeral honors will be at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, May 21, 2011 at Eagle Point National Cemetery. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.

Remembrances may be made to Logan Ryan Putnam Scholarship Fund at any Premier West Bank branch.

Benjamin was born December 7, 1986 in Medford. His early years were spent in Gold Hill where he attended Patrick Elementary School. At age 13 he moved with his family to Applegate and attended McLaughlin Middle School in Medford and later Hidden Valley High School where he graduated from in 2005. During high school he served in the Jackson County Sheriff Reserves. In January 2006 he joined the United States Coast Guard and from 2006 until 2009 was stationed at the Umpqua River Coast Guard station in Winchester Bay, Oregon. While living in Winchester Bay he received his Fire Science degree and volunteered as a firefighter and EMT in the Reedsport/Winchester Bay area. He then went to Coast Guard Training Center in Petaluma, California where he attended health services technician A-school. Upon graduation he was promoted to the rank of E4 and transferred to the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut.

Hi son, Logan was the most important part of his life and he loved to spend time with him. His other hobbies included fishing, playing acoustic guitar which he called “the green beast,” running, working out, and continuing to advance his education.

Survivors include his wife and son, Darci Putnam and Logan Ryan Putnam both of Jacksonville, Oregon; his parents, Lisa & George Autry and Mike & Diane Putnam all of Grants Pass, Oregon; two brothers, Corporal Matthew Matlock USMC of Grants Pass, Oregon and Mike Putnam of Medford, Oregon; his maternal grandmother, Iva Reynen of Medford, Oregon; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.