Ben Evan McLeod Jr., a retired oil company manager and a hunter, died of liver failure Dec. 5 at St. Joseph Medical Center. The Long Green resident was 79.

Mr. McLeod was born and raised in Georgetown, S.C. After graduating from what is now Clemson University in 1950, he enlisted in the Army.

Mr. McLeod served as a lieutenant with an ordnance unit in Korea and was discharged in 1952.

He went to work that year at a Standard Oil Co. bulk-oil plant in Conway, S.C., driving an oil truck and later tanker trucks. He was promoted to assistant to the plant's manager and later held assignments in Charlotte, N.C.

In 1969, he was transferred to the company's regional office in Baltimore, and at the time of his retirement in 1985, he was Mid-Atlantic regional marketing manager for Exxon.

Mr. McLeod, who enjoyed playing tennis and golf, also was an accomplished pheasant hunter and enjoyed the sport with a son and grandson.

"He was a man's man and a child's parent," said Holly L. Hunter of Long Green, Mr. McLeod's daughter-in-law. "He was an incredible and humble man."

Mr. McLeod was a deacon and adult Sunday school teacher at Long Green Baptist Church, where services were held Monday.

Surviving are his college sweetheart and wife of 56 years, the former Elizabeth Danner; three sons, Ben Evan McLeod III of Long Green, N. Bruce McLeod of Columbia and Robert D. McLeod of Owings Mills; a daughter, Betsy M. Craft of York, Pa.; a sister, Joyce McLeod of Georgetown, S.C.; and two grandchildren.