Benny was born in Frankfort, KY, the son of Howard and Frances Pember and a short time later moved to western Kentucky outside the town of Mayfield, where he and his older brother Ken grew up on a working farm. Benny lettered as an offensive lineman for the Mayfield H.S. Cardinals and maintained lifelong friendships with his Class of ’58 classmates. Benny then attended the University of Kentucky, where he joined Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and majored in industrial engineering. Upon graduating in 1962, he married the former Ann Piper, with whom he would later raise a family and build a life in Greensboro. Benny continued with graduate education at UK, earning an MBA, and then moved to St. Louis, MO, where he was an engineer with the Monsanto Company.
In 1967, he relocated to Greensboro, accepting an industrial engineering position with P. Lorillard Company, where he would build a successful and rewarding career, with wonderful, supportive colleagues. He rose to the position of Industrial Engineering Manager, retiring after 32 years of service in the late 1990s. In Greensboro, Benny was involved in the life of his family, his church at First Baptist on Friendly Ave., and his community. At First Baptist, Benny taught 8th grade Sunday School and served multiple terms as a Deacon and committee member. Over the years, he participated in several church sponsored relief and rebuild trips in Greensboro, throughout the southeast United States, and one in the early 2000s to Chile to build churches and a girls’ school. Benny was also a longtime member of Crescent Rotary Club.
In his personal life, Benny enjoyed Kentucky basketball, sports cars, amateur racing, classic westerns and war movies, classic rock and folk music, and travel. In retirement, he traveled extensively and was active in the lives and activities of his children and grandchildren. His best friendships spanned decades, going back to Kentucky and his earliest years in Greensboro. He enjoyed his First Baptist friends immensely, especially weekly Friday breakfast meetings with the men. Most importantly, in both his working life and in retirement, he put family and faith first. He lived a full and rewarding life.
Benny is survived by his two adult children, R. Benjamin Pember (Sarah) of Lancaster, PA, and Piper P. Landrum (Jonathan) of Raleigh, NC, and four grandchildren, Henry and Maggie Pember, and Casey and Graham Landrum. He is also survived by his niece and nephew, Wendy Burkard of Raleigh, NC, and Jay Pember of Auburn, AL, as well as cousins Carolyn Larkin, Greenbelt, MD, Charles Douglas, Owensboro, KY, and Jerry Smith, Paducah, KY. He is pre-deceased by his parents, Howard and Frances Pember, and his only brother, W. Kenneth Pember of Richmond, VA.
A celebration of life service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 7, 2023, at First Baptist Church, Greensboro, NC, where he was a member for over 50 years.
The family would like to thank the professionals at Moses Cone and Wesley Long Hospitals, the Cone Health Cancer Center, Choice Care Navigators, and Griswold Home Services for their support and kindness.
The family would welcome memorial contributions to the American Red Cross in support of continuing relief for the people of Mayfield, KY, or the worthy charity or faith organization of the donor’s choosing.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.haneslineberryfhnorthelm.com for the Pember family.
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