Memorial Tributes

1950 | Harriet Bender

Memorial Tribute
Naples, FL

On August 19th, Harriet (Clem) Bender succumbed to injuries sustained in an automobile accident on August 16, 2024. She lived independently close to her only child, Jill Bender Schwartz. She married her husband, William, in 1950, and they retired to Florida in the 1980s. She adored her granddaughter, Kathryn. Later, she welcomed Sumeet, her husband, to the family. She was head over heels when her great-grandchildren, Hailey and Anderson, arrived.

1953 | Robert Wiggins

Memorial Tribute
Greensboro, NC

Robert Wiggins’ commitment to excellence has left an enduring legacy in the educational realm and the realm of military service. He was awarded the Wilson College of Textiles Distinguished Alumni Award in 2017, in honor of his impressive career that included executive positions at Pioneer Yarn Mills and Frontier Spinning Mills. Following his graduation, Wiggins embarked on a journey as an educator, imparting his knowledge as a professor from 1956 to 1965. Beyond his academic endeavors, Wiggins demonstrated courage by proudly serving in the Korean War. Additionally, he served on the North Carolina Textile Foundation’s Board of Directors.

1992 | Torri Trexler

Memorial Tribute
Denver, NC

Torri Georgetta Evans Trexler passed away on January 29, 2026, after a courageous battle with stage four metastatic melanoma. Born on March 14, 1970, Torri enjoyed fashion and became interested in apparel manufacturing, which led her to graduate from NC State’s Wilson College of Textiles in 1992. Her bachelor’s degree in textile and apparel management led to exciting and successful employment ventures in apparel manufacturing sourcing, product development and sales. Torri is survived by her loving husband, Matthew Alan Trexler, and her two talented daughters, Madelyn Palmer Trexler and Georgia Ellen Trexler.