Franklin Ward Benson

Franklin Ward Benson

September 13, 1940 – October 25, 2014

Franklin “Frank” Ward Benson, 74, of Wilson passed away Saturday.  A celebration of his life and a graveside service will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday in Maplewood Cemetery.  The Rev. LaVon Phillips and Rev. William Foster will officiate.  The family will receive friends immediately following the service at the gravesite.

Frank was a graduate of Charles L. Coon High School in Wilson and he earned an Applied Mathematics and Statistics Degree at North Carolina State University.  He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and a friend to all that knew him.  He was dearly loved and will be greatly missed.  Frank and his brother, John, were co-owners of Carolina Builders of Wilson, Benson Rentals of Wilson, and Cities Development Company of Raleigh.  He was also a partner in Charter Construction Company, Kingsmill Homes, as well as various gas and oil partnerships in different states.  Frank was very involved in the Wilson Community, he was a faithful and loyal member at Farmington Heights Church of God, he was on the Board of Directors at BB&T for twenty-six years, and was a co-founder of Community Christian School of Wilson.  Frank had a passion for missions and was very instrumental in financing missionary endeavors internationally, with a particular love for the country of Israel.

 He is survived by his wife of fifty-two years, Judith “Judy” Barnes Benson of the home; his sons, Thomas Ward Benson and wife, Kim of Wilson and Jeffrey Gray Benson and wife, Sandy of Wilson; his daughter, Mollie Benson Dorsey and husband, David of Wilson; his grandsons, Jacob Gray Benson and David Thomas Benson;  his granddaughters Katelyn Gray Lemes, Lacey Benson Hantho, Madison Gray Benson, Virginia Benson Rabil; and Mary Benson Dennis; his four great-grandchildren and his brother, John and wife, Ann of Wilson He was preceded in death by his parents, James Willis and Mary Kate McLamb Benson. Flowers are welcome or memorials may directed to Farmington Heights Church, 910 Raleigh Road Parkway, Wilson NC  27896 or Community Christian School, 5160 Packhouse Road, Wilson, NC  27896.   Condolences may be directed to www.joyners.net.