Ervin Poplin

Mr. Poplin attended Statesville City Schools and graduated from high school in Portsmouth, Virginia. Returning to Statesville with his family after the war he attended Mitchell Community College. He sang for the choir where his passion and love for music became a lifelong ministry that continued until illness stilled his beautiful, strong, deep bass voice. He served our country honorably and with great pride in the U.S. Navy from 1948 until 1952 where he was a fire controller on the Destroyer - John A. Boyle. Moving on he earned his Dolphins and served on the submarine USS Runner for three years. He married the love of his life Betty Jean "Bennie" Benfield on March 19, 1955. They spent 59 years together joined in love, faith and family. He began his career with Toledo scale company (later to become Delta Scale) working as a Scale Technician where he dedicated 54 years of service covering an area of North and South Carolina. His sense of hard work and honesty were something of a legacy to all he worked for and came into contact with. He was known by many as "Pop". Ervin was a member of the former church Race Street Methodist until 1995 at which time he joined Front Street Baptist Church embracing them as a special and dear church family. He was a member of the Statesville Odd Fellows. He enjoyed singing, working on clocks, and tinkering in his shop; but most of all, his heart was his family. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Alan, Don, and Harry Poplin. Mr. Poplin is survived by his wife, "Bennie" Poplin; three daughters, Helen (Phillip May) of Statesville, Harriet P. Templeton (Harlan) of Union Grove, and Teresa P. Bost (Donnie) of Statesville; and one son Irvin Johnson Poplin (Cheryl) of Statesville. He is further survived by nine grandchildren, Lauren Pipkin, Casey Templeton, Nathan Bost, Aaron Bost, Brittany Bost, Catherine Poplin, David Poplin, Keith Gatton, and Heather Allison; and three great grandchildren, Ashton Mallette, Makayla Allison, and Caleb Allison. A service to celebrate the life of Ervin Poplin will be held 2:00 PM, Tuesday at Front Street Baptist Church with the Rev. Tim Stutts officiating. The family will be visiting with friends following the service at the church. Private family burial will be Tuesday at Oakwood Cemetery with military honors provided by the Iredell County Veterans Burial Detail. Memorials may be made to Front Street Baptist Church, 1403 W. Front St., Statesville, NC 28677. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.nicholsonfunerals.com and Nicholson Funeral Home is serving the family. The family would like to extend deepest appreciation and many thanks for all prayers, love and support offered during the time of illness and death.