Robin W. Hood

Mr. Robin Whitley Hood, age 78, of 500 East Main Street died Sunday at Wake Medical Center in Raleigh.
Funeral service will be 11:00: AM Wednesday at Benson Baptist Church. Officiating will be Rev. Michael Edwards, Rev. Don Price, and Mr. Joe Wilson. Burial will follow in Roselawn Cemetery with Masonic Rites.
Mr. Hood was born January 1, 1932 in Johnston County to the late John Robert and Cleo Wood Hood. He attended Campbell College and graduated from Wake Forest University where he was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity.
Mr. Hood’s proudest achievement was the “Robin Hood” legacy. He established Robin Hood Enterprises, Inc. which began in the late 1950s that continues on today. Some of the companies were: Whitley Hood Insurance Agency, Robin Hood Truck Stop and Restaurant, Robin Hood Oil Company, Thermo King of Benson, Robin Hood Container, Tobacco Acres Limited, and numerous others. He served on the Board of Trustees at Campbell University where he donated Robin Hood Pro Shop at Keith Hills.
Mr. Hood was the mayor of Benson from 1971-1979. Some of his well-known accomplishments include: getting a water line run to Benson from the Neuse River to allow further opportunities such as Chicopee to locate in Benson; and redirecting I-40 from Benson to Wilmington in lieu of Morehead City. He was named Town of Benson’s Citizen of the Year in 1973.
He served on the Benson Singing Convention Board of Directors for over 38 years. He was a member of the Benson Lions Club, past patron of Eastern Star, Benson Stock Club, Benson GBO and many other civic organizations. He was an active member of the Benson Baptist Church and a past Deacon. Mr. Hood was the Honorary Chief of the Benson Rescue Squad and was one of its founding members. Mr. and Mrs. Robin Whitley Hood were honored as the 2007 Grand Marshals of the Benson Mule Days parade.
Mr. Hood was a Mason and a Shriner and was the director of the Sudan Clowns for more than 48 years. Many are familiar with “Happy” the clown as he came down the street, leaving his clown cards behind. The 2007 Annual Shrine Convention held in Dunn was in honor of and dedicated to Robin Whitley Hood “Happy” and William S. Tart “Tiddle.”
Mr. Hood was predeceased by his parents and his brother, William A. “Billy” Hood.
He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Lois B. Hood; sons, Robin Whitley Hood II of Raleigh, and John R. Hood and wife, Sheri of Dunn; daughter, René Hood Vanek and husband, Rodney of Benson; grandchildren, John Tyler Hood, Corey Robert Hood, Reagan Whitley Vanek, Westin Hayes Vanek, and Jake Harrison Vanek; and a special sister-in-law, Betsy R. Hood of Benson.
Family will receive friends at Rose & Graham Funeral Home in Benson from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM Tuesday and other times at “The Farm,” 3050 NC Hwy 50 South, Benson.
Flowers are welcomed; however, memorials may be made to Benson Baptist Church, P. O. Box 323, Benson, NC 27504, Hood’s Grove Baptist Church, c/o Travis Hudson, 3739 Meadowbrook Road, Newton Grove, NC 28366, or Sudan Temple Dunn Clowns. P. O. Box 340, Dunn, NC 28335.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.roseandgraham.com.