Pastor Sidney E. Bennett Obituary (1935 - 2009)

Pastor Sidney E. Bennett, 74, a resident of Fort Wayne, was pronounced dead on arrival on Friday, June 19, 2009 at 9:00 p. m. at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne after suffering an apparent heart attack at the family residence in Washington Township. Pastor Bennett was born on February 27, 1935 in Evansville, a son of Sidney and Deloris (Gentry) Bennett, and spent his formative years in Oakland City, Indiana.e A man having three different careers, he served his country for 20 years in both the U. S. Marine Corps and the U. S. Army Reserves.e Employed as a safety engineer at General Motors in Martinsburg, West Virginia for 13 years, he retired from there in 1981. At age 47 he answered God's call to the ministry, and attended Boyce Bible College at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.e He served two churches, the last being New Hope Community Church in Fort Wayne, retiring from there there .e He was later asked to return to the church, and had been its pastor emeritus for the past four years. He had received the U. S. Army Commendation Medal for outstanding meritorious service as a citizen soldier of the U. S. Army Reserves, whose service was characterized by selfless dedication and great personal commitment during the period from May 4, 1983 to May 10, 1993.e His contribution greatly enhanced the effectiveness of the "Ready Reserve." On April 18, 1958 he was married in Dade County, Florida to Naomi J. Caskey.e She survives. Other surviving relatives include his two daughters Noell [Dennis] League and Heather [Steven] Milom, both of Fort Wayne; three sisters Pat [Don] Umbach of Lee's Summit, Mo., and Barbara Blair and Pam Hatfield, both of Evansville; five brothers Samuel Price of Lafayette, William Hoover and Mike [Patsy] Hoover, both of Oakland City, Ind., Norman [Brenda] Hoover of Haubstadt, Ind., and Joe [Debbie] Hoover of Francisco, Ind; sister-in-law Jennifer (Hugh Howell) Caskey; and four grandchildren Hannah Stuckey, Zachary Nowak, Lindsey Milom, and Shaylee Milom.e His parents both preceded him in death. Funeral services will be held at 1 p. m. Tuesday, June 23, 2008, at the Calvary Baptist Church, 7810 St. Joe Center Road, Fort Wayne, with Pastor Tim Franklin, officiating. The family will receive friends at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco on Monday from 5 to 8 p. m., or at the church after 11 a. m. Tuesday until the hour of the service. Interment with military graveside rites will be in the Covington Memorial Gardens in Fort Wayne. e For those who wish, memorials may be directed to New Hope Community Church, c/o Rozanna Niman, 1725 Kinsmoor, Fort Wayne, INe 46801. e ************************************** To leave a condolence for the family in memory of Pastor Bennett, please click on "Condolences" below. . .