Harold "Buck" Eugene Benfield

Harold Eugene "Buck" Benfield, began a new journey at 11:04 am Tuesday, June 21, 2016, with his Lord Jesus Christ. He was born February 5, 1927 in Iredell County to the late Relia Benfield Cascaddon. He quit school to join the Navy during WWII and went to Great Lakes, IL. Normally boot camp took 3 months, but because the war was in full swing in both Europe and the Pacific, he and his fellow sailors were rushed through in just 2 months. From Illinois he was shipped to San Diego, then to Pearl Harbor, HI. Then began Island hopping across the Pacific, to Guadalcanal, then to Okinawa where he was part of the last major battle in the Pacific, where the war ended in 1945. He ended his Navy time in Okinawa on Christmas Day 1945, then headed home. He finished his time in Charleston, SC April, 1946. He came home and went back to Statesville High School to get more education. He trained at N.C. State University to get CDL's to drive a truck. He married Mildred Burdette Benfield on May 24, 1947 and drove a truck for McClean and Roadway Trucking Companies for 20 years. His hobby was working on small engines and he took many courses at Mitchell College to play with lawn mowers. He retired from Holland Trucking Co. after driving until he was 85 years old. In 1973, several families in the County Line area saw the need for a Fire Department. He and O.L. Stroud gave land to build County Line VFD. He was a charter member and worked many years at BBQ and Chicken Pie suppers to help finance it. In addition to his mother, he was preceded in death by his grandparents, John and Sara Benfield, a brother, Other Cascaddon, a grandson, Danny Stevenson and his in-laws, E.P. and Nettie Burdette who he gave credit for winning him to the Lord and a brother-in-law, Kenneth Burdette. He is survived by his wife, Mildred of 69 years, one son, John Eugene Benfield (Diane), three daughters, Alice B. Kral (Jim), Susan B. Smith (Kenny), Cheryl B. Taylor (Johnny), brother-in-law, Charles Burdette (Helen) and sister-in-law, Polly Burdette. Also surviving are 15 grandchildren, Leigh Anne Campbell (Terry), Scotty O'Neal, Michael Smith, Kevin Benfield (Regina), Carla Redmon, Christie Biddick (Chris), Jerry Smith (Amanda), Dean O'Neal, Robin Fowler (Jack), Timothy Taylor (Heather), Candie Stegall (Matt), Jessica Carson (Paul), Paul Hedrick and John Benfield, Jr. (Ida), 27 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted 2:00 p.m. Saturday, June 25, 2016 at Calvary Baptist Church, 2165 Davie Academy Rd., Mocksville, NC 27028 with Rev. Fred Carlton and Rev. Rob Waugh. Burial will follow in the church cemetery with full military honors. Active pallbearers will be his grandsons and great grandsons. The family will receive friends Friday evening 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Nicholson Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Gordon Hospice House, Welcome Home Baptist Church or Calvary Baptist Church. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.nicholsonfunerals.com Nicholson Funeral Home is serving the family of Buck Benfield. The family would like to give a special thanks to Dr. Pam Sholar and Staff, County Line VFD for food and love and everyone at Hospice for all you have done for us. God Bless you all.