Apparently Bennie (not Ben or Benjamin) was his real name. At least he is so listed on his birth, marriage, death, and social security records.

The Kentucky Delayed Birth Registrations index (covers 1892-1910) lists Bennie Baldridge, born 5 Mar 1905 in Rowan Co., mother’s maiden name Margaret Thomas.

Index to Kentucky Death Records lists Bennie Baldridge, died 8 Oct 1988, age 83, in Rowan Co., born 5 May 1903, certificate Vol. 62, #30939.

The SSDI lists Bennie Baldridge, born 5 Mar 1905, died 8 Oct 1988, SSN issued in KY, last residence in Clearfield, Rowan Co., Ky.

His obituary in the Morehead News says Bennie Baldridge, 83, of Dry Creek Road, died Oct. 8 at his residence. He had been employed at Lee Clay Products for 35 years, and was a member of the Church of God for over 50 years. Mr. Baldridge was the son of the late Morgan and Margaret Thomas Baldridge. He is survived by his wife, Cleo Hall Keeton Baldridge; five sons, Charles Baldridge, Oceanside, Calif.; Worley Baldridge, Markleville, Indiana, Earnie Baldridge, Albuquerque, N.M., and Linville Baldridge and Virgil Baldridge, both of Wabash, Ind. Also, four daughters, Maxine McCarty, Wabash, Loretta Cooper, Muncie, Ind., Shirley Morgan, St. Petersburg, Fla., and Deloris Jones, Morehead; two stepsons, Doug Keeton, Morehead and Chester Keeton Jr., Lexington; one stepdaughter, Jo Ann McBrayer, Lexington; 23 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. His first wife, Nellie Petitt Baldridge, preceded him in death in 1984.

Jesse Petitt bible1 has entry "Nellie Petitt B. July 29, 1907 Married Bennie Baldridge Sept. 26, 1927, Nellie died March 3, 1984 Bennie Died Oct. 8, 1988"

Index to Kentucky Death Records lists Nellie P. Baldridge, d. 1 Mar 1984, age 76, in Rowan Co., certificate Vol. 15, #07016.

Social Security Death index lists Nellie Baldridge, b. 29 July 1907, d. Mar 1984, SSN 403-40-5951 issued in KY, last residence in Clearfield, KY.

Her obituary in the Morehead News says Mrs. Nellie Petitt Baldridge, 76, of Clearfield, died Thursday March 1 at St. Claire Medical Center. A native of Rowan Co., she was the daughter of the late Jessie and Emma Jean Clark (sic) Petitt. She is survived by her husband, the Rev. Bennie Baldridge; five sons, Charles Baldridge, Oceanside, Calif.; Linville Baldridge and Virgil Baldridge, both of Wabash, Ind., Worley Baldridge, Markleville, Indiana, and Earnie Baldridge, San Antonio, Texas; four daughters, Maxine McCarty, Wabash, Ind., Loretta Cooper, Muncie, Ind., Shirley Morgan, St. Petersburg, Fla., and Deloris Jones, Morehead; a brother, Harrison Petitt, Wabash, Ind., five sisters, Vesta Hall, Clearfield, Viola McBrayer and Lila Chadwell, both of Elliottville, Isa Smith, Warsaw, Ind., and Geneva Bays, Goshen, Ind. Also, 23 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. Services were conducted Sat., March 3. Burial was in Forest Lawn. Pallbearers were Steve Jones, Larry Cooper, Kenny Baldridge, Jerry Cooper, Blanchard Thomas and Homer Jefferson.

Rowan Co. marriage Book 23, p. 3, records marriage on 26 Sep 1927 of Bennie Baldridge, 21, s/o Morgan & Margaret Baldridge, to Nellie Petitt, 20, d/o Jesse & Emma Petitt, at res. of husband by W. F. Lambert, witnesses Martha Petitt and Nannie Stamper.

1930 census of Rowan Co., Ky, district 1, Morehead, lists on p. 8A as family #135:
Baldridge, Benny, farmer, 22, age at first marriage 19; Nella, wife, 22, age at first marriage 19; Charles, son, 1 11/12; Lenvil, son, 3/12; Margaret, mother, 54, widowed, age at first marriage 17. All born Ky/Ky/Ky.

1940 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Clearfield, enumerated 2 May, lists on p. 14B as family #257, on Dry Creek Rd:
Baldridge, Bennie, 33, laborer at tile plant; Nellie, wife, 32; Charles, son, 12; Linville, son, 10; Maxine, dau, 8; Loretta, dau, 4; Worlie, son, 2; Shirley, dau, 2. All born in Kentucky, living in same house in 1935.