Richard Douglas "Dick" Benton

Richard Douglas “Dick” Benton died peacefully at the Biloxi Veterans Affairs Medical Center on Oct. 15, 2025 following a short illness. He was 93 years old.

He is preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Elizabeth “Betty” Benton, son, Richard Douglas Benton Jr., two older brothers: Robert “Bob” Benton, and William “Bill” Benton, and parents Lois McConnell Benton and William K. Benton.

He is survived by four daughters: Theresa Fuller (Joey) of Brandon, Susan Carrafiello (Michael) of Beavercreek, Ohio, Annette Benton of Orlando, Florida and Catherine Chavez (Miguel) of Raleigh, North Carolina and one daughter-in-law, Kay Benton of Gulfport. He also leaves seven grandchildren: Jeff McNew, Josh Fuller, Katie Berry, Charlie Benton, Joe Carrafiello, Elizabeth Chavez, Luke Carrafiello and Miguel Chavez, as well as six great-grandchildren.

Dick was born in Fort Blackmore, Virginia on Sept. 27, 1932 and moved with his family to Middleburg, Virginia at an early age. After graduating from Hargrave Military Academy in 1949, Dick enlisted in the United States Air Force. This move brought him to Mississippi for the first time. While serving as an instructor at Keesler Air Force Base, Dick met a local girl named Betty Simon. The pair began dating and wed on Dec. 3, 1954 at the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Cathedral in Biloxi.

Dick and Betty soon moved to Starkville where he pursued degrees in electrical engineering at Mississippi State University. After a brief move to Virginia, as well as time spent in Oxford and Biloxi, Dick and Betty started their family and returned to Starkville, where Dick served as a professor of electrical engineering at Mississippi State, a post he held until his retirement in 1995. Some years after his retirement, Dick and Betty returned to Biloxi.

Dick’s final years were spent at The Blake at Biloxi where he served as president of the resident council and was honored as king of The Blake’s Mardi Gras parade in 2025. His 90th Birthday in 2022 was officially proclaimed “Richard Douglas Benton Day” by Biloxi Mayor Andrew “FoFo” Gilich.

As an academic and researcher, Dick visited several countries including China and Russia and was credited as an author or co-author of several papers and conference presentations. He was bestowed with the title of professor emeritus upon his retirement from Mississippi State.

His devotion to his alma mater extended beyond his professional and academic life and he could often be found in maroon and white, cheering on the Bulldogs regardless of the game’s outcome. He was also a fan of the New Orleans Saints.

A convert to Catholicism, Dick was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus, serving stints as Grand Knight of Council 1244 in Biloxi and Council 6275 in Starkville. He was a founding member of the Starkville council. He was a member of Council 1244 at the time of his death, and for decades could be found at the Bourré table with his Brother Knights following meetings. He was most recently a parishioner at Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos Catholic Church in Biloxi but also attended Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church and Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Cathedral at various points.

Dick will be remembered as a man who always had something to say and who always remained loyal to his family. He cared deeply about his children and grandchildren and pushed them all to be successful, knowledgeable, well-rounded individuals.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Dick will be celebrated at Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos Catholic Church in Biloxi at 11:00 am on Tuesday, Oct. 21. Visitation will begin at 10:00 am at the church. He will be interred in the columbarium at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Starkville at a later date.

Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Richard Douglas “Dick” Benton.