Shortly before midnight Saturday, January 20, 2018, George Loary Bennett, 94, of White Sulphur Springs, WV, a most precious, kind, and gentle man, closed his eyes as his family held him tight with hugs, and gave him kisses to help ensure a gentle passing to his new forever home in Heaven.
Before his passing, Mr. Bennett was transported from the White Sulphur Springs Nursing Home to the ER at Greenbrier Valley Medical Center and placed in ICU. He had been recuperating in the nursing home following a previous stay in the hospital.
He was born on February 19, 1923, in Anstead, WV, to William Robert Bennett and Margaret (Maggie) Ann Bennett.
During his childhood, his father worked for the railroad, so the family lived in various areas of West Virginia, including Thurmond, Glen Jean, and eventually Fairlea. He was one of the younger sons from a family of 15, a family with a lot of stories, such as walking to school barefoot in snow, frequent mischievous events, and becoming well-known by teachers and principals as one of the “Bennett Boys.” Later in life, he loved to visit the abandoned railroad town of Thurmond to reminisce.
On May 19, 1948, he married Mildred Marie Douglas, and remained married until her death in July 2001. They were introduced by a mutual friend, Ginny Cerotsky, and George became Mildred’s boss at Burlington Industries in White Sulphur Springs.
When George was 12, his father passed away, prompting him to join the United States Navy before graduation to help with financial obligations of the family. (He eventually received an official diploma at a special ceremony held in Beckley, WV, in his early seventies.) After discharge from the Navy, he became a supervisor at Burlington Industries in White Sulphur Springs. He took classes to become a real estate agent and went to work for the recently deceased Wellington Johnson of Greenbrier Valley Real Estate upon the closing of the Burlington plant. George remained a real estate agent for many years, but eventually became a deputy real estate assessor at the Greenbrier County Courthouse for more than 25 years. George and his wife also owned and operated Bennett’s Terminal Lunch, which joined the Greyhound Bus and Taxi Service owned by his brother, Pete Bennett.
He was a long-standing member of the White Sulphur Springs Rotary Club and had also been a member of the American Legion.
In the 1950s, with the help of his brother-in-law, Robert Huckleberry Douglas, he built his own cinderblock house on Central Avenue in White Sulphur Springs, which remained a residence until the flood of 2016. He was residing with his daughter at the time of his death, where he had been since the death of his wife in 2001.
Golf was his passion, and for many years, he was a member of the Valley View Country Club and played every Wednesday with the Hackers.
He was a charter member of the White Sulphur Springs Baptist Church, and had been one of the original founders.
After complete retirement at the age of 85, he became a daily advisor and listener to the local town folk at Bowyer’s Electric with his best buddy, Emory Bowyer, and his wife, Nina.
George and his wife also acquired several rental properties. He was his own carpenter, plumber, electrician, etc., with the help of his grandchildren.
He lived a very rich and valued life, full of love and kindness toward so many people. Other than his remaining sister, Colleen Walton, he probably traveled more in his nineties than some people do in a lifetime. Anywhere his daughter went, he was there, always. A special thanks to all who enjoyed including him on special occasions.
George absolutely loved life, God, especially his grandchildren, all his family, including many nieces and nephews, many, many friends, and his one and only daughter—and they all loved him.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Mildred; and siblings, Forrest, Harry, Pete, Doug, Wallace, Bill, Edith, Helen, Jessie, Carrie, Sherman, Charles, and Shud.
He is survived by one daughter, Mellie Bennett Hanna; a sister, Colleen Walton; three grandchildren, Robert Joseph Hanna III and his wife, Lauren, Loarie Hanna Butcher and her husband, Jason, and Christopher David Hanna and his wife, Tina; several great-grandchildren, Jay and Bryce Butcher and Brylee Hanna; extended family members, Tyler and Peyton Robinette, Logan and Hayden Schack, and Rylee and Ryder Ward; and his special friend, Betty Sarver.
His other family, whom he loved dearly, were his coworkers at the Greenbrier County Courthouse, which included Clyde, Steve, Nancy, Mike, Sandy, Shelia, Mary, Martha, Teresa, Hope, Polly, Tonya, Larry, Jeannie, Linda, Susan, Tammy, Dudley, and Joe. He so loved to join them for celebrations long after his retirement.
Funeral service will be held Friday, January 26, 2018, at 2 p.m. at the White Sulphur Springs Baptist Church, with Pastor Randy Gilliam officiating. His body will be interred at Greenbrier Memorial Gardens Mausoleum.
Friends and family may gather to celebrate his life Thursday, January 25, 2018, from 6-8 p.m. at McCraw Funeral Home.
A special thanks to his caregivers, Donna Glover, Diana Trigg, Angel, all those from the Greenbrier Committee on Aging, and Home Health, especially Travis.
His daughter feels so lucky to have had him as a father. He was the very best, and an awesome grandfather. His daughter would like to thank her friends, Jo Ann, Karen, Debbie, Denise, Richard House and family, Dave and Betty Hobbs, and cousins Judy, Darla, and Janice for helping her father have a great end of life.
He will be remembered as a most patient, kind, and gentle man; by definition, a true gentleman. One of his famous sayings was “Tell me all you know, I got a minute!”
Expressions of sympathy may also be made to the White Sulphur Springs Baptist Church, in memory of George L. Bennett.
McCraw Funeral Home in Lewisburg is in charge of arrangements.
Obituary originally published in the January 24, 2018 edition of The West Virginia Daily News.
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