Obituary of Harold Aldridge Benson

After a prolonged and hard fought battle with prostate cancer, Harold Aldridge Benson, age 57, of Graham, NC, passed away peacefully, at home on July 5, 2024, with his beloved daughters and cherished friends by his side.

Harold was born December 6, 1966 to Shelby and Wilton Benson of Mebane, NC.  From a young age, his insatiable curiosity led him to dismantle all manner of household items, eager to understand how they worked.  One notable incident, at just three or four years old, saw him taking apart the oven door, under his mother, Shelby's, watchful eye.  She sat with him the entire time, to make sure he put it all back together correctly, and he did–a lesson that fueled his lifelong passion for tinkering and working on machines.

At Eastern Alamance High School, Harold’s love for machines and vehicles began to truly shine.  He excelled in his studies in the school’s automotive group, and he distinguished himself in state-wide troubleshooting competitions, taking 3rd place, overall, his best year.

After high school, Harold began working as a mechanic for PBM Graphics, Inc. in Durham, NC, where he adeptly repaired and maintained their card processing machines and other equipment.  Over his years with the company, his skill and work ethic saw him rise through their ranks, eventually leading a team of personnel as a Manager in their maintenance department.  Later, he moved on to a similar role with a different company, Millennium Print Group, where he finished his career in industrial maintenance.  Regardless of where he worked, though, his knowledge, humor, and guidance in the field left an everlasting mark on those who worked with and around him.

Despite his love of cars and machines, Harold found his greatest joy in fatherhood.  His twin daughters, whom he adored, were the center of his world.  With the help of his family, he worked hard as a single father, always striving to provide for them and their happiness, and, in his free time, he poured his passion and creativity into building all manner of toys and contraptions for them and their cousins to play with.

In 2015, Harold received the sobering diagnosis of prostate cancer, a battle he courageously fought in private, only eventually sharing his struggle with his daughters and a few chosen confidants, until, in the last months of his life, it became impossible to hide.  During his periods of remission, he did all he could to live his life to its utmost best, especially enjoying his time out on the lake or ocean, fishing with his family and friends, creating precious memories he held dear to the very end.

Harold's memory will be forever cherished by those whose lives he touched—a testament to his remarkable spirit and enduring impact. He is survived by his twin daughters, Michelle (David) Rose and Melody Burns; his grandchildren, Isabella and Zachariah Burns; his loving parents, Wilton and Shelby Benson; his siblings Joan (Mike) Robinson, Terry (Tina) Benson, and Tim (Machell) Benson; numerous extended family members and friends; and his two treasured cats, Baby and Athena.  He was preceded in death by his niece, Tiffany Benson.

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 PM, Friday, July 12, 2024, in the chapel of Walker's Funeral Home in Mebane.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, July 11, 2024, from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM at the funeral home.

A private burial service will be held for the family.

Condolences may be expressed online at www.walkersfuneralservice.com

Walker's Funeral Home, Mebane is honored to serve the Benson family.