Ronald Walter Bennett's Obituary
BENNETT, Ronald Walter, age 92, of Centerville, passed away Friday, June 7, 2024, at Hospice of Dayton.
When you read this, I will be gone! I thought it would be appropriate to write my own obit so I would know what was in it. I was born October 3, 1931, to Thomas E. and Annis E. Bennett of Dayton. I grew up in the Dayton area and graduated from Fairmont High School in 1949. After being accepted to General Motors Institute, I worked as a co-op at Delco Products until graduating on August 7, 1953. The next day, I married Signe Bosson from Flint, Michigan. A year later, I volunteered for the draft into the United States Army, stationed in Fort Knox, Kentucky, for basic training. I remained there for my two years of service.
I returned to Delco Products in Dayton as a Project Engineer. A few years later, I accepted a position as an engineer with the AC Electronics Division of General Motors. I worked in the Douglas Aircraft Company lab on the THOR missile project in California and later in England, where the missiles were installed. When the project ended, we lived in Milwaukee with two sons, Randal (Kim) Bennett and David Bennett. I returned to the automotive industry in Dayton as a Sales Engineer for Delco Moraine until transferring seven years later to Design Engineering. While being a design engineer, I worked on several assignments, including developing the Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS).
In 1973, my wife died suddenly, leaving me to raise my two sons alone. Several years later, I met and married Louise Mente (who passed away in September of 2023), and my family grew to include her three children, Phillip (Jan) Mente, David Mente, and Karen (Craig) Mente Duffy. I continued to work for General Motors as a Staff Design Engineer until retiring in September 1987. Over the years, as our children married, our family grew to include our seven grandchildren, Jennifer Mente Brock, Sarah (Will) Abner, Steven (Audrey) Mente, Cyrus Bennett, Emily (Will Foran) Mente, Julia Mente, and Rachel Duffy; and two great-grandchildren, Simon and Jonas Mente.
My love for cars has continued throughout my life. I was a lifetime member of the Society of Automotive Engineers, The Cadillac LaSalle Club, and the 32nd degree of the Scottish Mason. I’ve enjoyed restoring several cars and attending Cadillac Club car shows nationwide. I have enjoyed good health and have had no major maladies or accidents in my 92 years. I must thank God for my two wonderful wives, well-being, and good fortune. I am eternally thankful for all my good friends over the years. And with that, I bid everyone a fond farewell… no tears, only happy thoughts, memories, and tales of our good times, and perhaps, I will encounter some of you in our afterlives.
Bye now,
Ron
A memorial service will be at 11:30 AM on Friday, July 5, at Conner & Koch Funeral Home, Bellbrook. Burial with full military honors will be at Miami Valley Memory Gardens in Centerville. Life Celebrant Brian Bennett will officiate. The family will receive friends from 10 to 11:30 AM on Friday, July 5, at the funeral home. If desired, contributions may be made to the Hospice of Dayton. Condolences are at www.connerandkoch.com.
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