GREENSBORO — Benjamin Cornelius (Pete) Alley born September 19, 1920 in Rockingham County, the son of Thomas Decatur and Eliza Purgason Alley, died peacefully on January 30, 2013 at 92 in Moses Cone Hospital, after a short illness.
Pete served his Country during World War II in the Navy. After the war ended he worked for Southern Railway, where he retired after 38 years of service.
Most important to Pete was serving his Lord, Jesus Christ. As a member of Guilford Baptist Church, he was a Deacon, and taught Sunday School for decades during his 60+ years of membership. Also, he was a long-time member of the Stokesdale Chapter of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.
His hobbies included gardening and beekeeping. Sharing vegetables from his garden and honey from the bees with family and friends gave him great pleasure. He loved music-especially hymns-and delighted in initiating and leading hymn singing at Heritage Green and Stratford Retirement Communities (where it was listed on the Sunday calendar as, "Hymns with Pete"). Even in his later years he loved to laugh and tease people, and kept "the spirits up" for many in those retirement homes.
Surviving are his daughter, Carole Alley King and her husband, Charles King of Charlottesville, Virginia; and his son, James (Jim) Ray Alley and his wife, Gail, live in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, where he serves as the Minister of Music of First Baptist Church.
Pete had three grandchildren: Ruth Marie King Grubbs and her husband Stephen, who reside in Leesburg, Virginia; Charles Guy King, Jr. and his wife Maria, who live in Greensboro; and Eliza Alley McCullough and husband, Win, who live in Edenton, N. C. In addition, he had five great grandchildren, his namesake, Charles Benjamin King, Caroline Marie King, Molly Rachel Grubbs, Cole Martin Grubbs, and James McCullough.
Also, surviving are his brothers, T. D. (Jim) Alley, Jr. Melvin Alley, Bobby Alley, and sister Betty Soyars, all living in Summerfield, plus a host of nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife of 67 years, Blanche Fulp Alley; brothers Edward Alley, Lionel Alley; and sisters, Beatrice Maxwell, Dorothy Avant, Ruby Hackett Scott and Bernice Henderson.
The Funeral Service will be held at Guilford Baptist Church 5904 West Market Street, Greensboro, N. C., 27409 on Saturday, February 2, 2013 at 11 a.m., with visitation immediately following the service at the Church. The interment will follow at 2 p.m. at Westminster Gardens Cemetery in Greensboro.
The Family requests that memorials go to Guilford Baptist Church designated for the Alley Seminary Scholarship Fund in lieu of flowers.
Forbis & Dick Guilford Chapel is assisting the family. Online condolences may be offered at www.forbisanddick.com.
