Bill Bennett, 32nd Degree Mason, Dies at 88
The family will receive visitors for the World War II veteran on Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Bellamy Funeral Home's Hiram location.
William Lawrence "Bill" Bennett, 88, of Powder Springs, died Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012.
The family will receive visitors Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Bellamy Funeral Home's Hiram location. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, with Dr. Lamar Whitener, Dr. Steven Bennett and Dr. Quinn Evans officiating.
Graveside services will be held at Chataignier Baptist Church Cemetery in Louisiana.
Mr. Bennett was born on Oct. 24, 1923 in Pineville, Louisiana. He moved to Port Arthur, TX in infancy and later attended Marine navigation school in New Orleans and New York City.
He was a sea farer for many years in the U.S. Merchant Marines, including throughout World War II. He also worked in the oil industry in Texas and Louisiana. He retired from Citgo Oil Refinery in Lake Charles, LA.
He was a life-long member of organized labor, a retired member of the National Maritime Union, the International Brotherhood of Boiler Makers, the Iron Shipbuilders Union and the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Worker's Union.
In 1951, he was ordained as deacon in the Baptist faith. He was still serving as a deacon in his home church, First Baptist Church of Hiram. He was a 32nd degree Free Mason, with membership in Calcasieu Lodge 400 in Lake Charles, LA; a member of the Scottish Rite Consistory of Atlanta; and a member of several genealogical societies.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William Monroe and Lorena Miller Bennett; a brother, W.M. Bennett Jr; and a daughter, Sandra Diane Bennett.
He is survived by the love of his life, his wife and companion of 70 years, Neva Aguillard Bennett; two daughters, Sahndra Bankens and husband Rev. Rodney Bankens of Collins, Mississippi, and Becky Whitener and husband Barry of Powder Springs; two sons, W. Patrick Bennett and wife Cheryl of Westlake, LA, and Dr. Steven L Bennett and wife Susan of Hernando, Mississippi; seven grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
Dwain Aguillard
5:14 pm on Monday, September 10, 2012
Bill was deeply loved and admired by Neva's family here in Chataignier and Point Blue, Louisiana. Our thoughts and prayers continue for Neva and her family. We enjoyed every visit and learned so much from this fine gentleman. The world needs more people like him, and may God continue to bless this Christian family. We were honored to have known him! Love. Suzanne, Dwain and Toni Aguillard of Evangeline Parish