Charles "Chick" Ray Benfield

Mr. Charles Ray (Chick) Benfield, 80, of 1560 Royalty Circle, Statesville, died Wednesday evening December 29th at Iredell Memorial Hospital following a lengthy illness. Born in Catawba County on April 7, 1930, he was a son of the late H.L. Benfield and Mary Pope Benfield. He was retired as a supervisor from Kewaunee Scientific Corp. after 39 years and served in the U. S. Air Force from 1950 to 1954. Prior to his illness, Chick enjoyed fishing, hunting and star gazing. He was a Charter Member of the Duck Creek Gun Club. He was a 1950 graduate of Scotts High School and enjoyed going to his school reunions.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by an infant child and a half sister, Margie Pope.

On March 28, 1959, he married the former Barbara Wilson, his wife of 51 years, who survives. Also surviving are a daughter, Melynn Roberts and her husband, Heath of Troutman and two grandchildren, Katie and Abby Roberts. Also surviving are a brother, Boyd Benfield and two sisters, Nancy Templeton and Sylvia Benfield all of Statesville.

Services celebrating Chick's life will be conducted at 3:00 P.M. Sunday at Westmoreland Chapel of Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home with Rev. Henry Cook officiating. The family will receive friends from 7:00 until 9:00 Saturday at Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home and at other times will be assembled at the residence of the deceased.

Committal services will be conducted at 11:00 Monday at Iredell Memorial Gardens with full military rites presented by the Iredell County Veterans Council Burial Detail. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.bunchjohnsonfuneralhome.com. Memorials may be given in lieu of flowers to the church or charity of the donor's choice. Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.