Jerry Bennett

Obituary for Jerry Wayne Bennett Jerry Wayne Bennett died at the age of 69, at 6:56 p.m., on May 20, 2016, in his home, in Navarre, Florida. He had been fighting Multiple Myeloma for almost three years and passed away peacefully surrounded by his family and close friends. He is survived by his beautiful wife of 33 years, Josine A. Bennett; three daughters, Linda L. Clark, Brenda C. Clark, Josiane J. Bringmans; and son, Douglas M. Bringmans and his wife, Petra Fransis. He is also survived by eight grandchildren, Denise J. Clark, Kayla M. B. Clark, Jade C. Clark-Ohl and her husband Ryan Ohl, Caden T. Clark, Kyle Bennett Clark, Robin T. Kerkhofs, Ian Kerkhofs, and Meghan J. Bringmans; and two great-grandsons, Daiton Wolfgang and Hayden Ohl. Jerry was born on December 20, 1946, in Carlisle, West Virginia, to Davis Clovis Bennett and Opal Francis Presnell Bennett. His sister is Jewel Bennett Stover Kravich and her husband John; and his half siblings are Lewis Marshall Bennett, Jessie Bennett, Lois Bennett, Dovis Jr. Bennett, Gladys Bennett Harrelson, Diane LeBlanc Acosta, Margaret [Peggy] Dotson Mcllveene, Dana Decker, and Danny LeBlanc. Jerry grew up in Bolt, West Virginia, with his Uncle John Thomas Adkins, and then later with his cousin, Leonard and his wife, Tootsie Adkins and their three children, Mary Kathryn Boggs, Raymond Lee Atkins, and Paul Adkins. Jerry Bennett served in the U.S. Air Force as a Computer Telecommunications Specialist including volunteered service for three years in the Vietnam War. He retired in 1989 after 24 years of active duty and then went to work at the V.A hospital in Beckley, West Virginia, for six years as a switchboard operator. He then moved to Europe where he worked as a civilian in Schinnen, Netherlands, as an Official Mail Courier for the U.S. Army for ten years. In 2007, Jerry and his wife, Josine, moved to Pearland, Texas, where he delivered pizza part-time until he completely retired in 2011. He loved working on computers, where he would build and upgrade his computer equipment, and play video games, such as flying airplanes. He also took pleasure in collecting and building model airplanes and cars. He enjoyed gardening. He was very proud of their pear, orange, peach, and apple trees, as well as their jalapeño plants, and blueberry plants. His latest pastime included maintaining a well manicured lawn, with a prominently displayed American flag, as well as maintaining his storage building for his tools and gardening supplies. His service continued as he helped maintain Hemlock Street, by picking up litter, to keep the neighborhood clean. This extraordinary, devoted, and honorable man is loved and cherished by all who crossed his path. The impact he made in many people's lives will leave an imprint imbedded in our hearts and minds forever and the memories we have of this wonderful man will be shared treasures for many years to come. Jerry Bennett will be missed however, never forgotten. A memorial service will be held at 12 noon, Friday, June 17, 2016, at Lewis Funeral Home, Navarre Chapel (7794 Navarre Pkwy, Navarre, Fl.) Visitation will be held 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., prior to the service. He will be laid to rest with military honors at 2:05 p.m., Friday, June 17, 2016, at Barrancas National Cemetery (Pensacola Naval Air Station, 1 Cemetery Road Pensacola, Fl 32508.) A reception will follow after burial at St. Sylvester's Catholic Church (6464 Gulf Breeze Pkwy. Gulf Breeze, Fl 32563.) In lieu of flowers, the family graciously requests, that donations be made to St. Jude’s Hospital (online at www.stjude.org, or by phone at 800-822-6344.)