NASHVILLE - Ben J. Layton, 83, was called to be with the Lord on Tuesday, August 28, 2007 after a courageous fight with cancer. Funeral services were conducted at 2 p.m. Friday, August 31, 2007 at Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home. Burial followed at Rocky Mount Memorial Park.
Ben was born March 2, 1924 in Nash County, spending most of his youthful days in the Justice community of Franklin County. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II aboard the USS Warren as an electrician’s mate 3rd class, and was involved in three invasions in the Pacific. He later served on the Rocky Mount Police Department in the late 1940’s.
Mr. Layton was President of the National Finance Adjusters Association in 1968; he also served as Chairman of the Nash County Republican Party. He was appointed by the Governor to the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency Board of Directors in 1974. He established Ben Layton Sales Co. in 1960, selling manufactured housing, developing and operating Layton’s mobile home park, and developing subdivisions for manufactured homes. Mr. Layton helped establish the North Carolina Manufactured Housing Institute in 1968 and served on its Board of Directors from 1968 to 1980. He was awarded the Lavasque Award in 1985 for service and dedication to the industry, and was inducted into the National Manufactured Housing Hall of Fame in 1999. He will be greatly missed for his strong leadership and for touching the lives of so many.
He was preceded in death by his parents, June and Viola Brown Layton; three brothers, Will Layton, Ollie Layton, Rossie Layton; and three sisters, Ethel Young, Elizabeth Rickard, and Marie Smith.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Pauline Sutton Layton; sons, Wesley Layton and wife, Brenda Baines Layton, Billy Layton and wife Ann Batchelor Layton; six grandchildren, Chris Layton, Jamie Layton, Kim Ward, Josh Andrews, Matthew Andrews, Leslie Stone; one great-grandchild, Lauren Layton; brother, Jimmy Layton; and sister, Edith Raynor.
Home visits were welcome at the home, 4801 Western Hill Road, Nashville, NC. The family received friends Thursday, August 30, 2007 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home, 1130 North Winstead in Rocky Mount.
In lieu of flowers, the family ask donations be made to Community Hospice, 3124 Zebulon Road, Rocky Mount, NC 27804 or VFW Post 2057, 11270 East NC 97, Rocky Mount, NC 27803 or Eastern NC Homeless Veterans, ENCVD.com, or Cancer research of your choice.
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