Robert Allen “Bobby” Benfield, 63, of Statesville, N.C., passed away on December 9, 2025, at the S. Mitchell Mack Hospice House in Mooresville, N.C. A native of Iredell County, Bobby was the son of David Lee Benfield and the late Janice Elaine Freeland Wilson. He attended Alexander County Schools.

Bobby grew up with a deep love for airplanes, air shows, and history. He enjoyed a long and accomplished career in aviation as a certified Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Technician. He was formerly employed with the Aviation Department at Michael Waltrip Racing in Statesville and most recently worked with North State Aviation in Winston-Salem.

Among his many talents and interests, Bobby was an accomplished guitarist and was rarely without one of the several guitars in his collection. As a devoted history enthusiast, one of the highlights of his life was traveling to Northern France to walk the beaches and battlefields of Normandy, as well as visiting the Imperial War Museum at Duxford in the United Kingdom.

In addition to his father, David Lee Benfield, Bobby is survived by his stepmother, Sara Karesh Benfield; his brothers, Jerry Jonothan Benfield of Statesville and Lee Maxwell Benfield of Charleston, S.C.; and his sisters, Pamela “Pam” Benfield Cooper of Hiddenite and Katie Karesh Benfield of Charleston, S.C. He is also survived by his special niece, Zoey, and special nephew, Waylon. A family friend, June Fink, also remains to cherish his memory.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, December 18, 2025, from 6 until 8 p.m. at Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home in Statesville. A graveside service will be held at Providence Methodist Church Cemetery in Statesville on Friday, December 19, 2025, at 2 p.m. Following the graveside service, family and friends will gather in the Church Fellowship Hall to receive friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of Iredell County, 2347 Simonton Road, Statesville, NC 28625.

Memories, words of comfort, and other expressions of sympathy may be shared online at www.bunchjohnsonfuneralhome.com by selecting Bobby’s obituary.

Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with the care of Bobby and his family.