Vivian Elizabeth Benton Dickinson Becton

A resident of Carteret House Assisted Living Facility in Newport, NC, Vivian Becton passed away in her sleep on December 4, 2024 at Carteret Health Care after a lengthy illness.

Her service will be held at Core Creek Methodist Church on Saturday, December 7, 2024 at 2:00 PM with Pastor Bryan Lassiter officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1:00-2:00 PM at the church.

Vivian was born in Flemington, NJ on July 2, 1932 to Effie Belle and Theodore Benton. She moved to Bachelor, NC, in 1948, and attended Beaufort High School where she was a school bus driver. She did not graduate, but later attended night school in Craven County where she earned her equivalency diploma and completed many college courses.

She met and married Kenneth Lee Dickinson on July 28, 1950. They remained married until his death on February 7, 1987.

After living in the Sea Gate community for the next thirteen years, she married Simon "Adrian" Becton on March 5, 2000. They remained married until his death on March 11, 2009.

Vivian began work for the Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, NC in 1961, and retired from Federal Civil Service as a Budget Analyst in the Fiscal Department after 30 years of service. She also served several terms as the Financial Chairman on the Sea Gate Board of Directors.

Vivian was blessed to be a member of the Core Creek Methodist Church since 1955, where she served as Church Secretary, Membership Secretary, and Treasurer for the United Methodist Women. She was a Church School Teacher and served on many committees through the years including Membership Care and Nurture, Nominations, Finance, Pastor Parish Relations, and the Prayer Committee. She also sang in the Church Choir and helped with the creation of the first Nativity Scene in the county to feature live animals and life-sized camels, Wise Men, Shepherds, Angels, and the Holy Family all built by the members of the church.

Among Vivian's hobbies were oil painting, working in stained glass, and assembling jigsaw puzzles.

Vivian is survived by her God Children (nieces and nephews) June Wells Garner (Donald), Vivian Wells, Tammie Wells Schaaf, and Ray O'Neal Wells. Many other beloved nieces and nephews also survive her including Charley Dickinson, Margaret Dickinson Staley (Bryan), Peggy Willis McQueen, and Rhonda Taylor Small. Also, her brother A.D. Benton's children, Janet and Nancy; Ronnie Benton's children, Teresa, Danny, Ronald James, and Julie; and her sister Daisy Belle Philipsheck's children, Mike, Claire, Tommy, and Cassie. She is also survived by her cousin/brother L.O. Taylor's children, Beth "B.J." (Jim) and Wendy Jean.

Vivian was preceded in death by her parents, Theodore Ephraim Benton and Effie Belle Taylor Benton Brewer, as well as, her step-father, William "Bill" Brewer; two sisters, Daisy Belle Philipsheck and Lois Jane Benton Wells Graham; three brothers, Artis Duke "A.D." Benton, Norman Lee Benton, and Ronald Lewis Benton, and her cousin/brother L.O. Taylor and his wife Betty Faye; plus both husbands, Kenneth Lee Dickinson and Simon "Adrian" Becton. Those preceding her in death also include three of her God Children/nephews, Lawrence Eugene Wells, Theodore Marshall Wells and James Artis Wells, and her nephew, Steven O'Neal Taylor.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Building Fund at Core Creek Methodist Church, 122 Hardesty Loop Road, Newport, NC 28570 or to a charity of one's choice.

Condolences and life tributes may be sent to the family at www.noebrooks.net.

Arrangements by Noe-Brooks Funeral Home and Crematory, Morehead City, NC.