1920
James
2013
James Bennett
September 30, 1920 — August 17, 2013
James Rowland Bennett, 92, passed away after a long illness on August 17, 2013 in the Latrobe Hospital. Mr. Bennett was a long-term resident of Hempfield Township. He was born September 30, 1920 in Brush Valley in Indiana County a son of the late Michael and Bessie (Wilson) Bennett.
Mr. Bennett was an educator and school administrator. His career spanned from teaching in a one room school house in Indiana County to representing the Pennsylvania Department of Education to all school districts in Westmoreland County. He graduated from Indiana State Teachers College (now known as Indiana University of Pennsylvania) and earned a Master's Degree from the University of Pittsburgh. After teaching and being principal in several Indiana County schools, Mr. Bennett was named Elementary Supervisor for Jeannette City Schools. He was later appointed an Elementary Supervisor and Assistant Superintendent for Hempfield Area School District and ended his career in 1979 as the Executive Director of the Westmoreland Intermediate Unit 7 providing educational and technical services and administrative support to all school districts in Westmoreland County.
He served in the U. S. Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1945 as an aircraft mechanic, tail gunner for bomber-type aircraft and an instructor in gunnery, achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant.
Mr. Bennett had long been a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Jeannette where he also served as a deacon and an elder.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers and one sister.
Mr. Bennett leaves his wife of 67 years Margaret (nee Billups) and two children; daughter Kathleen Bennett Dolan of Newton, MA and her spouse Edward, and son James R. Bennett, Jr. of Huntersville, NC and his spouse Jacqueline. He is survived by one brother, Lawrence Bennett and his wife, Maxine, of Homer City. The family also includes four grandchildren: Edward J. Dolan III of Norwood, MA , Jennifer Dolan of Boston, MA , Sarah Bennett Kirk of Woodstock IL, and Rachel Bennett of Champaign, IL and two great-grandchildren.
A private gathering to celebrate the life of James Rowland Bennett will be held for the family. Arrangements have been entrusted to the KEPPLE-GRAFT FUNERAL HOME, INC 524 N. Main St. Greensburg. For online condolences, please www.kepplegraft.com
Mr. Bennett was an educator and school administrator. His career spanned from teaching in a one room school house in Indiana County to representing the Pennsylvania Department of Education to all school districts in Westmoreland County. He graduated from Indiana State Teachers College (now known as Indiana University of Pennsylvania) and earned a Master's Degree from the University of Pittsburgh. After teaching and being principal in several Indiana County schools, Mr. Bennett was named Elementary Supervisor for Jeannette City Schools. He was later appointed an Elementary Supervisor and Assistant Superintendent for Hempfield Area School District and ended his career in 1979 as the Executive Director of the Westmoreland Intermediate Unit 7 providing educational and technical services and administrative support to all school districts in Westmoreland County.
He served in the U. S. Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1945 as an aircraft mechanic, tail gunner for bomber-type aircraft and an instructor in gunnery, achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant.
Mr. Bennett had long been a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Jeannette where he also served as a deacon and an elder.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers and one sister.
Mr. Bennett leaves his wife of 67 years Margaret (nee Billups) and two children; daughter Kathleen Bennett Dolan of Newton, MA and her spouse Edward, and son James R. Bennett, Jr. of Huntersville, NC and his spouse Jacqueline. He is survived by one brother, Lawrence Bennett and his wife, Maxine, of Homer City. The family also includes four grandchildren: Edward J. Dolan III of Norwood, MA , Jennifer Dolan of Boston, MA , Sarah Bennett Kirk of Woodstock IL, and Rachel Bennett of Champaign, IL and two great-grandchildren.
A private gathering to celebrate the life of James Rowland Bennett will be held for the family. Arrangements have been entrusted to the KEPPLE-GRAFT FUNERAL HOME, INC 524 N. Main St. Greensburg. For online condolences, please www.kepplegraft.com
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