Benjamin Whitehead Bo McKenzie Jr., 83, beloved husband and father, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2004, at Hospice in the Moses Cone Hospital. A memorial and worship service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, where he was a member. Committal will be in the church columbarium in a private service preceding the memorial service. Family will receive friends immediately following the service in the Haywood Duke room at the church. Bo was born to Dr. and Mrs. Benjamin Whitehead McKenzie on Feb. 17, 1921, in Salisbury. He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Margaret Marty. Other survivors include a son, Benjamin W. Ben McKenzie III, of Raleigh; a daughter, Jean Bruton McKenzie of Garland, Texas; a grandson, Harvey Alexander Alec Carpenter IV, of Greensboro; a granddaughter, Katharine Casey Greer of Snellville, Ga.; great-grandchildren, Kelli Greer and twins, Sam and Janie Carpenter; brother Dr. Edward Burt Ed McKenzie of Statesville; special aunt, Virginia Burt Gunnell of Middlesburg, Va.; several special nieces, nephews and in-laws. A daughter, Carolyn Hay McKenzie predeceased him in October, 1997. Bo received his early education in the public schools of Salisbury. He was a 1942 graduate of The Citadel with a degree in civil engineering, and of North Carolina State University with a graduate degree in textile manufacturing. At NC State, he graduated with highest honors in his class. He was an Army veteran of World War II, served the Corp of Engineers and attained the rank of major. He had vast manufacturing and operations experience in the textile field. During his career with Burlington Industries and Textron Southern (1948-1986), he served various assignments throughout the Southeast. This included group manager, division manager and vice president. He also served as division manager of Textiles Morelos in Cuernavaca, Mexico. He and Marty returned to Greensboro in 1977, where he retired in 1986. After retirement, they enjoyed numerous trips, especially to the beach, which had always been one of his favorite places. He also surprised us all by revealing his skill in painting. In his younger years, he was active in community affairs and his church. He had served as a past chairman of United Way of Wilson County, president of Junior Chamber of Commerce and member of the Kiwanis Club in North Carolina and Georgia, among other activities. In lieu of flowers, memorial remembrances may be made to Hospice of Greensboro, 2500 Summit Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27405 or to Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 607 North Greene Street, Greensboro, NC 27401. The children would like to thank him for his hard work and dedication to provide us such a wonderful life, for his sense of humor which brought so many smiles into our lives, and for instilling in us a sense of pride in all we do, yet remembering our humility and our fellow mankind. He will be sorely missed as father and friend and will remain close in our hearts until we meet again. Have a safe journey, Dad. The family of Mr. McKenzie is being served by Forbis & Dick Guilford Chapel.
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