R.B. “Sonny” Bennett, 79, of Lewisburg, WV, died at Greenbrier Valley Medical Center in Fairlea, WV on Friday, May 5, 2017, following a brave fight with lung cancer.
Born September 13, 1937, in Alderson, WV, the son of Roy H. and Virginia Hanger Bennett.
Sonny was a graduate of Alderson High School in Alderson. He was an active member of the Ground Observers Corps and the Civil Air Patrol. He learned to fly airplanes as a teenager at the local airport in Pence Springs, WV. After graduation, he proudly served in the United States Air Force, where he was involved in the Strategic Air Command. Following his service to the country, he graduated from the Sheffield School of Aeronautics in Miami, FL.
His 40-plus year career in aviation was spent working as a dispatcher for Piedmont, Southwest, Ozark, and American Airlines. Following retirement, he founded his own company, Transcon Aviation, with campuses in northern Virginia and Maryland, where he served as president and instructor. He was a member of the Old Stone Presbyterian Church in Lewisburg and of the Alderson Lions Club.
Sonny is survived by his wife of 36 years, Jacqueline Richardson Bennett; his sister, Virginia Bennett Keadle; stepchildren, Mary Dotson Rose and husband, Dennis, Thomas C. Dotson, M.D., and wife, Nicole, and Laura Beth Dotson Sheppard and husband, Richard; step-grandchildren, Michael Rose, Philip Dotson, Joseph Dotson, Elizabeth “Ellie” Sheppard, and Ann E. Sheppard; nephew, Ben Arbaugh and wife, Anne; and a grandniece, Bella Arbaugh.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Nancy Maye Bennett.
A memorial service celebrating Sonny’s life will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, May 13, 2017, at the Old Stone Presbyterian Church. A reception in the chapel of the educational building at the church will immediately follow the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Old Stone Presbyterian Church, 644 Church Street, Lewisburg, WV 24901, or the Johnson Youth Aviation Foundation, 491 Bell Drive, Lewisburg, WV 24901.
Online condolences may be made by visiting www.WallaceandWallaceFH .com.
Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home in Lewisburg is in charge of arrangements.
Obituary originally published in the May 8, 2017, edition of The West Virginia Daily News.
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.