George Perryman Bennett

George Perryman Bennett died on July 12, 2006 after a lengthy illness with Parkinson’s disease in Corsicana Texas at the Heritage Oaks Village Nursing Home. George was born May 4, 1910 in Tahoka, the county seat of Lynn Texas. He was the youngest boy of eight children born to George Washington Bennett of Randolph County Missouri and Mollie Pace of Sivells Bend Texas. His siblings Silvia Kemp of California, Bonnie Hammonds of Pauls Valley, Charles Claude of New Mexico, Grace Bennett, of Pauls Valley, Jim Bennett of Pauls Valley, and Pauline Williams of Wynnewood preceded him in death. He is also preceded in death by his beloved wife, Savannah Georgia Harper who died on September 6, 2004 in Corsicana Texas and his daughter Wanna Sheryl “Bennett” Peacock who died in 13 August 1989 In Ellington Conn. George is survived by his son Jack Bennett a long time resident of Pauls Valley Oklahoma, his granddaughter, Dana Dobbs of Corsicana Texas and her husband Tracy Dobbs, Donna Peacock of Stafford Springs Conn, Cindy Christenson of Juno Beach Florida, and her husband Eric Christenson, great grandson Shawn Rogers of Tyler Texas and his wife Shawn Hickman, great granddaughter Jodie White of Lorena Texas and her husband Mark White, great great granddaughters KayCee Lynn Rogers, Danielle Rogers of Waco, Luke and Lane White of Waco, and Grace Hickman of Tyler Texas. He is also survived by his nephew Steven Williams of Hennepin Oklahoma, Nephew Jim Ward of Fresno California, Niece Jimmy Ellen Gardner of Elmore City Oklahoma, niece Betty Ruth Dockray of Dennison Texas. George lived a long and interesting life. It began in Atoka Texas where his family were farmers. Later when the Bureau of Land Management opened up land to homestead his father and other family member moved Mountain Aire New Mexico. He was just eight at that time and told family tales of his father hunting and learning to survive in the hardy New Mexico country. His favorite story was of being saved by an old White Mule his brother Charles Claude had trained right before going to Germany in War World I. He said he was lost in a snow storm and was running in the opposite direction of his home when he heard the old white mule braying, and he followed it’s voice home. He credits the old mule with saving his life, George remembers the early days of living in the Pauls Valley area and going to school at White Bead. He married Savannah in Wynnewood Oklahoma, December 11 1932. He and his family were staunch members of the Church of Christ beginning back in Casey County Kentucky in the early 1800’s. The family then moved to Randolph Missouri where they helped to build the first Church of Christ in their community. They later came to Texas in the mid 1800’s and moved to Oklahoma after War World I. George and his wife Savannah were members of the Church of Christ in Wynnewood, Pauls Valley and Maysville. George’s first began his career driving an Ice Wagon up and down the streets of Wynnewood Oklahoma; he farmed cotton, corn and grain sorghum. He was a believer in education and went to Business College for 13 months. In 1933 he was hired for his first office job as a Crop Insurance Clerk for the Garvin County AAA office for $4.00 per day. He later began a 30 year career with United States Government as an Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation officer. He moved to various locations until he retired in Ottawa County Oklahoma and he and Savannah then moved back to the Pauls Valley, Wynnewood, and Maysville area. In September 1999 when due to ill health they moved to Texas to be closer to the Dallas area medical facilities and their grandchildren. George is remembered by his family as a kind man who gave of himself to the community. He was a member of the Kiwanis, the Federal Retirees Union and was an involved in church activities. He delivered Meals on Wheels to the elderly until he was 87, and it was a family joke that no one could convince him he was elderly. He enjoyed family history, and genealogy, and is part of the Family Tree and National Geographic DNA project. He firmly believed in being young of heart and once expressed “you don’t get older you only get slower.” He deeply loved his wife Savannah and his son Jack and daughter Sheryl. When his wife died shortly after their 72nd anniversary he was unable to attend her funeral because of his Parkinson’s disease, however he helped to arrange what was spoken and sung at her service. He wanted the message to be passed on at her funeral for their family and friends to know that she was a good woman. That was George Bennett loving his family and thinking of others. He liked everyone he met and always had a smile and kind word for others. Although his disease was lengthy and sometimes painful he never complained. He was amazing in his Grace during his illness. He will be sorely missed by his family and friends as he brought joy and smiles to everyone he knew. Visitation will be held from 9:00 A. M. to 8: P.M Friday, July 14 at Wooster Funeral home 1601 South Chickasaw Pauls Valley, Ok. The funeral service will be held in the Wooster Funeral home Chapel on Saturday, July 15 at 11:00 A.M. with Roy Shave officiating. Interment will be in the Wynnewood Oaklawn Cemetery under the direction of Wooster Funeral Home. You may send a condolence to the family at www.woosterfuneralhomes.com

George Perryman Bennett

May 4, 1910 - July 12, 2006