Benny Hilton Rose

September 20, 1949 - January 15, 2020
Benny Hilton Rose

Benny Hilton Rose, 70, of the Pike Road community in Pantego, North Carolina, passed away surrounded by his family on January 15, 2020, after a brief battle with lung cancer. He was born in Belhaven Hospital on September 20, 1949. He lived his entire life in Beaufort County, NC, where his family has lived for at least two centuries. He graduated from Pantego High School in 1967. Growing up in the Pinetown, Pungo, and Terra Ceia communities, he loved hunting, fishing, and driving fast cars. His father was a dragline operator and Benny spent many hours with him learning to maintain and operate heavy equipment and helping clear farmland and dig much of the drainage system still in use today in Beaufort, Hyde and Washington Counties.

Since 1996, Benny was the owner of Benny Rose Repair Service, where he worked on trucks, heavy equipment, and anything else folks in the community would drag up. He enjoyed the challenges of mechanic work, and his encyclopedic knowledge of old trucks, tractors, cars, and anything else with an engine brought customers from miles around. Prior to opening his own business, he was shop foreman for Shavender Trucking for 15 years, where he managed maintenance for a fleet of over 100 trucks. Earlier in his career, he worked as a welder, construction worker, at the Weyerhaeuser paper mill, and at Bell Farms in Pantego, where he first began working at 4 years old. He always said that he built some of his most important skills working on the farm, where some years he ploughed all 6,000 acres by himself. He also built lifelong relationships with the people he worked with on the farm.

Benny is survived by his wife of 25 years, Sharon Griekspoor Rose, his son Ian and his wife Julie, his son Jason, and his daughter Shiloh and her partner Tim McClave. He’s also survived by his uncle Steve Waters and his wife Linda, his sister Margaret Mayo, his brother-in-law Ralph Cook, his sister Louise Jordan and her husband Joe, his sister-in- law Arlene Dunbar and her husband Mike, and his brother-in-law Tony Griekspoor and-his wife Lisa. Too numerous to list are beloved cousins, nephews, nieces, great-nieces and great-nephews. Finally, he will be missed greatly by his beloved Pomeranian, Jazz.

Anthony Griekspoor, Shane Griekspoor, Joshua Jobe, Michael Paniagua, Phillip Dunbar, and Leamon Allen will serve as Pallbearers.

Roland Bell, Vernon Bell, Buddy Shavender, Tom Cutler, Al Sawyer, Paul Van Gyzen, Joe Jordan, Pete O’Neal, Charles Gaynor, Connie Lee Simmons, Brad Toppin, and James Riddick will serve as Honorary Pallbearers.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Benjamin “Hambone” Rose and Lois Waters Rose, and by his sister Frances Rose Cook.

Benny’s funeral will be at Union Grove Church of Christ at 6889 NC-99, Pantego, NC 27860 at 2:00 PM on Saturday, January 18, 2020. The family will receive visitors at Union Grove Church of Christ on from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM on Friday, January 17, 2020.

You may share a memory with the family by visiting www.josephpaulfdl.com.
Joseph B. Paul, Jr. Funeral Director Licensee of Washington is serving the Rose family.
View Celebration of Life Video


Funeral Service

Saturday, January 18, 2020
2:00 PM

Union Grove Church of Christ - Directions
6889 NC-99
Pantego, NC 27860

Visiting Hours

Union Grove Church of Christ - Directions
6889 NC-99, Pantego, NC 27860
  • Friday, January 17, 2020
  • 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

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  • May 25, 2023
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  • January 15, 2020
    Deanie Heath says:
    Go Rest High on That Mountain

  • January 15, 2020
    Tawanna Warren says:
    My thoughts and Prayers are with Sharon and family. May God's Grace hold you tight today and days to come!

  • January 16, 2020
    david davis says:
    So sad to hear of Benny's passing. Thought and Prayers are with Sharon and her family.

  • January 16, 2020
    Al and Brenda Wright says:
    Thoughts and prayers are with the Family......

  • January 16, 2020
    Eddie Harris says:
    Prayers for you Sharon and family. I certainly am going to miss a great friend! Anything you need Sharon don't hesitate to ask me.

  • January 16, 2020
    Beatrice Dillon says:
    So said to hear of such a wonderful person passing away. He was a neighbor of mine for years and I will always remember his spirit, humor and helpfulness for not only me, but for my parents as well. He will be missed.

  • January 16, 2020
    Beth Woolard says:
    Love & prayers to you & your family ❤

  • January 16, 2020
    Roland and Karen Bell says:
    Words cannot express the sorrow felt by our community upon the loss of such a wonderful guy! Benny always had a smile and a word of encouragement or advice. He was quick witted and enjoyed a good laugh! We will be praying for his family to have strength, comfort and peace during this difficult time.

  • January 16, 2020
    donnie cutler sr. says:
    Thoughts and prayers to the family.

  • January 17, 2020
    Wade n Ollie Allen says:
    "Thoughts and prayers to Sharon and all his family and friends." Benny will be remembered by his love for others through his daily actions!

  • January 20, 2020
    Cindy Stoquert says:
    Sharon, i am just finding out about the passing of Benny. My condolences. Benny was a wonderful person. I know he will be missed.

  • January 21, 2020
    S. Murphy says:
    Thoughts and prayers to Rose family.

  • January 24, 2020
    Marianna Jackson says:
    I knew Benny in high school. He was my dance partner at my freshman year sweetheart dance at Bath. I had fond memories of him. Prayers for his wife and family.

  • March 07, 2020
    Major Smith says:
    He will be missed god bless he was a good person!