Harold Eugene “Buck” Benfield, died at 11:04 a.m. Tuesday, June 21, 2016.

He was born Feb. 5, 1927 in Iredell County to the late Relia Benfield Cascaddon. He quit school to join the Navy during World War II and went to Great Lakes, Ill. Normally, boot camp took three months, but because the war was in full swing in Europe and the Pacific, he and his fellow sailors were rushed through in two months. From Illinois he was shipped to San Diego, then to Pearl Harbor. Then he 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, S.C. 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 CDLs 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. 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 barbecue and chicken pie suppers to help finance it.

He was also 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.

Survivors: his wife of 69 years, Mildred; a son, John Eugene Benfield (Diane); 3 daughters, Alice B. Kral (Jim), Susan B. Smith (Kenny), Cheryl B. Taylor (Johnny); brother-in-law, Charles Burdette (Helen); sister-in-law, Polly Burdette; 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 at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 25 at Calvary Baptist Church, Davie Academy Road, Mocksville, with the Revs. Fred Carlton and 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 from 6-8 at Nicholson Funeral Home.

Memorials: Gordon Hospice House, Welcome Home Baptist Church or Calvary Baptist Church.

Condolences: www.nicholsonfunerals.com.