Gregory "King" King Benson, Jr.

Gregory King Benson, Jr.

Knoxville – Gregory King Benson, Jr, age 93 of Knoxville, Tennessee, passed away peacefully at home with family on Saturday, January 31, 2026. King was born on February 9, 1932 in Knoxville. He was the son of the late Gregory King Benson, Sr. and Ruth Tedford Benson

King attended Tyson Junior High, Knoxville High School (class of 1950), and graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in Transportation. King was an officer in ROTC and served as president of Kappa Sigma Fraternity. He went on to join the Army, was Lieutenant in charge of a motor pool in Labrador, Canada, and spent some time stationed in Paris.

Using the GI Bill, he took flying lessons from the legendary pilot trainer Evelyn “Mama Bird” Johnson in Morristown , TN and thus began a lifelong passion for all things aviation. He nearly always had a plane of some type and delighted in taking friends and family to and from many exciting locations. He earned the highest instrument rating and owned/piloted nearly 30 aircraft over the years. 

King loved boats and being on the water. He loved to waterski and taught countless people using one of his many watercraft. He earned his Oceangoing Captain’s license and sailed to and from the Bahamas several times.  

He mostly worked in sales in his early career days and then bought RT Clapp Car Repair Center in 1975. He bought and sold cars, boats, and airplanes throughout his life as well as after he sold RT Clapp in 2000. He was still active as a broker in the airplane market until very recently.

He loved entertaining and found great joy in family gatherings large and small. His unwavering Christian faith served him well as a devoted member of Sequoyah Hills Presbyterian Church.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Avery LeNoir Benson. He is survived by loving family including son Gregory King Benson, III, (Diane) and daughter Mabry Benson. Grandsons Benjamin Cameron Lang (Kayla), Gabriel LeNoir Lang, and Emery Paul Benson (Maria) as well as one great-granddaughter. King loved and cherished all his Bonus kids.

A celebration of life service will be held Sunday, February 15, at 2:00 pm at Sequoyah Presbyterian Church, 3700 Keowee Ave. SW, Knoxville, TN, 37919

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Sequoyah Presbyterian Church, 3700 Keowee Ave. SW Knoxville, TN 37919 or to Westmoreland Health and Rehab, 5837 Lyons View Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919