Dr. Robert Haney Benfield was born on October 17, 1920, in Mooresville, N.C. and died peacefully on May 7, 2011. He was the son of the late James Gilmer Benfield and Laura Ellen Miller Benfield. In addition to his parents, Dr.Benfield was predeceased by a brother, Harry G. Benfield and two sisters, Elizabeth B. Gabriel and Sara B. Wright.
Dr. Benfield graduated from Mooresville High School, then enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he served for four years during World War II. Following the war, he attended Davidson College and went on to graduate from the Emory University School of Dentistry. He practiced dentistry in Charlotte from 1952 – 1998. Dr. Benfield was a member of the North Carolina Dental Society and served as president of the Mecklenburg County Dental Society.
Dr. Benfield was very active in the Boy Scouts. He was an Eagle Scout and was particularly proud that his sons had attained the same rank. He also enjoyed woodworking, travel, Davidson basketball, collecting antiques, and collecting just about anything else.
Surviving are his wife of fifty-six years, Shirley White Benfield; daughter Laura Benfield Thompson and her husband, Bill, of Salisbury; son Robert Haney Benfield, Jr. and his wife, Stephanie, of Atlanta; and son James Earl Benfield of Charlotte. He also leaves six grandchildren: Hannah Thompson of New York, Anne Claire Thompson of Denver, CO, Davis Benfield and Lindsey Benfield of Charlotte, and Robert H. Benfield III and Beverly Benfield of Atlanta.
Dr. Benfield’s family would like to thank all of his caregivers for their excellent and tender care of him, especially Joseph Carr, the staff of Southminster, and the staff of the North Carolina Veterans’ Home.
A memorial service to honor the life of Dr. Benfield will be held on Wednesday, May 11 at Trinity Presbyterian Church on Providence Road at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will be at the church beginning at 10:00 a.m.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to Davidson College, the Southminster Foundation, or to a charity of the donor’s choice.
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