Patricia Diane (Miller) Benson

December 2, 1945 – February 14, 2026

Patricia Diane Benson, 80, of North Topsail Beach, NC, passed away peacefully at home on February 14, 2026, after a courageous battle with Alzheimer's disease. She was surrounded by love, with her devoted husband of 59 years, David Michael Benson, by her side. A private Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

Pat was one of seven children of the late Vincent Miller and Jacqueline Pickett. She is survived by her children, Julie Macialek (Franklinton, NC), Jeremy Benson (North Topsail Beach), and Jamie Benson (U.S. Army, Ansbach, Germany); her brothers, Rodney Miller (Jacksonville, FL) and Timothy Miller (Walpole, ME); her sister, Marintha Miller (Bluffton, SC); six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her sisters, Suzette Lowre and Kathleen O'Toole; her brother, Joseph Miller; and her grandson, Nathan Perez.

Pat graduated from Richmond High School in Richmond, IN, and went on to earn her degree in education from Indiana University in Bloomington. Throughout her 25-year teaching career in elementary education, she taught grades 1–6 as well as gifted and talented students in Colorado, California, and Ohio, spending the bulk of her career with Wake County Schools in Raleigh, NC.

Teaching was not just her profession, but her passion. Pat was the kind of welcoming teacher whose students loved coming to school each day. She challenged them in ways that brought out their best efforts, regardless of learning ability. Her classroom was a place where every child felt seen, encouraged, and valued. She was deeply loved by her students and highly respected by the many principals she worked with throughout her career.

Pat was kind and considerate to everyone she met. She never overlooked the people who make daily life possible — always greeting the mail carriers, banking staff, and the custodians at her schools with genuine warmth and appreciation. No one was forgotten in her world.

A loving mother and grandmother, Pat cherished camping trips, bike rides, and quiet time at home with her family. An avid gardener, she found joy in planting spring flowers and tending her garden each year. She especially loved working in her flower beds, where her patience and care helped everything bloom beautifully — much like the lives she touched.

She will be deeply missed by her family and all who had the privilege of knowing her.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Alzheimer's Disease Research in her name.