Mr. Frank Benjamin Havens III, 93, husband of the late Kay Easling Havens and a resident of Harborton, passed away Sunday, July 22, 2018, at his residence. A native of Arlington, Va., he was the son of the late William D. Havens and the late Ruby M. Nothey Havens. He was a U.S. Army veteran and retired insurance adjuster. Mr. Havens competed in the canoe and kayak events in the 1948 Olympics in London, 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, and 1960 Olympics in Rome. He finished as a silver medalist in 1948, as a gold medalist in 1952, and remains the only American Olympic gold medal winner in a singles canoeing event. He is an honorary life member of the Washington Canoe Club, member of the U.S. Olympic Team, U.S. Olympic Alumni Association, American Canoe Association, Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, Arlington Sports Hall of Fame, and Washington and Lee High School Sports Hall of Fame.
He is survived by three sons, Dan Havens and his wife, Bonnie, of Vienna, Va., Frank Havens IV and his wife, Debbie, of Parker, Colo., and Scott Havens, of Belle Haven, Va.; and three grandchildren, Sean, Jennifer, and Aimee Havens.
A Celebration of Life service will be conducted Sunday, July 29, 2018, at 2 p.m. at Harborton United Methodist Church with Pastor Deborah Killough officiating. Interment will be held in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Friends of Washington Canoe Club, P. O. Box 25449, Washington, DC 20027.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.doughtyfuneralhome.com
Arrangements were made by Doughty Funeral Home in Exmore.
