May 15, 1936 ~ July 19, 2024 (age 88)
Richard Earl Benton, age 88, of Chadbourn, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday evening, July 19, 2024 at his residence with his family by his side.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 3:00 p.m. Thursday (July 25, 2024) at the Chadbourn Pentecostal Holiness Church Life Center with Pastor Donald Conway and Pastor David Butler officiating. The family will receive friends from 2:00 p.m. until time of the service on Thursday at the church.
Entombment will follow in the Chadbourn Memorial Cemetery with military honors.
Mr. Benton honorably served his country in the United States Air Force for 20 years retiring in 1973. Later Earl retired from the US Department of Agriculture (Tobacco Inspector) in 1998 after 20 years of service.
He was born on May 15, 1936, in Columbus County to the late Valery James Benton, Sr. and Hettie Jane Green Benton. Earl was also preceded by his wife, Shelby Britt Benton in 2015; a daughter, Tammy B. Starr in 2016; and nine siblings, Marjorie (in infancy), Kathleen Benton (in infancy), James Franklin “Buster” Benton, Valery James Benton, Jr., Rachel Benton Dubay, Louise Benton Riley, Betty Benton Hubbard, Sudie Benton Williamson and Floyd Green Benton.
He leaves to cherish his memory, two daughters, Kathy B. Carter of Evergreen and Debbie B. Ransom (Lloyd) of Whiteville; five grandchildren, Jonathan Ransom (Laura), Beth Clewis (Joey), Jeffrilyn ‘Farckle’ Stephens (Jared), David William Starr III, and Benton Richard Harrison Starr; five great-grandchildren, Joshua Ransom, Ethan Ransom, Kelsie Clewis, Skylar Clewis and Gabriella Stephens.
Memorials may be made to the Chadbourn Pentecostal Holiness Church, 518 N. Elm Street, Chadbourn, NC 28431 or to the Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Center, 206 Warrior Trail, Whiteville, NC 28472.
