COLUMBUS
Smiley Webster Bennett, 85, of Columbus, passed from this life at 5:30 a.m. Saturday, December 16, 2017 at Our Hospice of South Central Indiana Inpatient Facility.
Mr. Bennett was born December 14, 1932, in Walesboro, Indiana, the loving son of John L. and Alta E. Bishop Bennett. He married Alta Marie Lasyone July 16, 1955. She preceded him in death September 18, 1998. He later married Lonnie Nielsen Eudy September 15, 2007.
Mr. Bennett was a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War, rising to the rank of Airman First Class. He was honorably discharged March 27, 1962.
Mr. Bennett started his career with the Indiana Farm Bureau Co-op in 1971 while he was in college in Indianapolis. He would receive an Associate Degree from Ivy Tech in 1974 and would become the office manager of the Johnson County Farm Bureau Co-op in 1980. He would hold this position until his retirement in 1993.
Mr. Bennett’s favorite thing he ever did in life was worship the Lord and serve his community as a chaplain. He served as a chaplain in various nursing homes and was a volunteer chaplain at Columbus Regional Hospital.
Mr. Bennett was a member of Parkside Baptist Church.
Mr. Bennett is survived by his wife, Lonnie; children, Teresa (Jim) Cash of Elizabethtown, Indiana, Patsy (Harry) Hill of Columbus, Indiana, Jimmy (Rhonda) Bennett of Columbus, Indiana, and Smiley “Eddy” (Beverly) Bennett of Columbus, Indiana; grandchildren, T.J. (Lindsey) Cash, Luke (Kimberly) Cash, Shawn (Erin) Craig, Dustin (Ashley) Craig, Brittney (Pat Riley) Goodwin, Jamie (Emily Colvin) Bennett, Kylie Bennett, and Phillip Bennett; 8 great-grandchildren; a brother, John (Karen) Breeding of Columbus, Indiana; a sister, Betty Lou (Russell) Brummett, of Columbus, Indiana; and many nieces and nephews.
Mr. Bennett was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Alta Bennett; an infant sister, Patricia Bennett; and siblings, Kathryn Jones, Mary Doty, Velma Geilker, Robert “Buck” Bennett, John H. Bennett, Donald “Jiggs” Bennett, Nellie Lemmond, Paul “Butch” Bennett, and Barbara McKnight.
The funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Barkes, Weaver & Glick Funeral Home on Washington Street with Dr. William E. Bailey officiating.
Family and friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and from 12 p.m. until service time Wednesday.
Burial will be at Garland Brook Cemetery. Full military rites will be presented by the U.S. Air Force Ceremonial Unit and the Bartholomew County Veterans Honor Guard.
The family asks that memorial contributions be made to Our Hospice of South Central Indiana or the Alzheimer’s Association.
Online condolences and special memories may be shared with the Bennett family at barkesweaverglick.com.
