Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

February 16, 2016

CHARLOTTE - Benjamin Sherwood Staton, 97, died on February 16, 2016 at Summit Place of South Park in Charlotte, NC. Ben was born on July 21, 1918 in Marshville, NC, to a family of educators. His father, Oscar Mott Staton, was a mathematician, teacher, coach and principal, who ended his working career as the Superintendent of Schools in Davidson County, NC. His mother, Addie Mae Young Staton, worked as a dietician in the schools where her husband also worked. Ben was educated in the public schools of North Carolina, and graduated from Wake Forest College in 1940. Ben served as the business manager for both the college newspaper "The Old Gold and Black", and the college annual, "The Howler".

Ben liked to say that he was lucky in love. His run of good fortune began at Wake Forest College where he met Mildred "Boots" Hobgood whom he married in 1940. Ben and Boots marriage lasted for 64 years until her death in 2005. Ben's good fortune continued when shortly after his 90th birthday Ben married Martha "Marti" Cofer Birkmeier in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Ben and Marti had a remarkably close marriage, which lasted until his death.

Ben served as an intelligence officer assigned to the 7th Fleet in the Pacific Theater during WWII. He participated in several major battles including the battles of Midway, and of Leyte Gulf. After VJ day in August 1945, Ben was assigned to Korea where he participated in the establishment of the 38th parallel between North and South Korea. Following his return from being overseas, Ben began a successful career in sales, marketing and manufacturing. His first job was as a salesman for the WA Schaeffer Pen Company. Subsequently he was a corporate officer with several companies including Elgin National Watch Company, the Ingraham Clock Company, and the Jamesbury Valve Company. His last position before retirement was as President of Quartrol Corporation, a manufacturer of industrial valves, in Birmingham, Alabama.

Ben is survived by his wife, Marti; Marti's daughter Renee Conte, Renee's husband Tom, and their children Max and Theo all of Northampton, Massachusetts; by his daughter, Anne Caldwell Albing, and husband Brian of Tempe, Arizona; son James Sherwood Staton of Charlotte; son John Scott Staton, and wife Linda Barnett Staton of Charlotte; by five grandchildren, Benjamin Sherwood Staton II of Winston-Salem, Katherine Staton Chamberlain and husband Doug of Raleigh, Margaret Staton Quinn and husband Austin of Washington, DC, T. Marshall Staton, and Molly Sarah Staton of Charlotte, and Wilson Barnett Owens and wife Noell of Raleigh, NC: by five great grandchildren; Laura Whitten Staton and Benjamin Sherwood Staton III of Winston Salem, NC; Oliver Douglas Chamberlain and Willa Sellers Chamberlain of Raleigh, NC and Louisa Elizabeth Quinn of Washington, DC.

A private burial service will take place on Sunday, February 21, 2016 at 3PM at the historic Wake Forest Cemetery on North White Street in the town of Wake Forest, NC. Ben's family expresses its thanks and gratitude to: Wanda Lomax, CNA, of Charlotte, NC, who for three years provided caring and professional nursing care for Ben; the staff at Summit Place of South Park; and to Edwin H. Shoaf, Jr., MD, of Novant Internal Medicine Associates, Dr. Thomley and Dr. Frank of the Sanger Clinic in Charlotte, and to Dr. Perry Sowell and Dr. Banks Allen. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Ben's memory to Hospice and Palliative Care, Charlotte Region, 1420 East Seventh Street, Charlotte, NC 28204, or to the charity of one's choice. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/charlotte/obituary.aspx?n=benjamin-staton&pid=177793139#sthash.cl6xyxzC.dpuf

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth Poe Funeral & Cremation Services, 1321 Berkeley Ave Charlotte NC 28204. Phone: 704 641-7606