WWII Veteran celebrates 100 years of life
Donald Bennett takes time to remember the past century
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Donald Bennett was born to Blanch and Lee Bennett at their home in Cambridge, Ohio, on June 13, 1922. His parents told him that the doctor who delivered him charged $15 for his birth.
Bennett grew up in Cambridge and went to Cambridge High school, where he dropped out after breaking his leg his sophomore year. He then went on to join the Civilian Conservation Corps, a work relief program, to build roads in Three Creek, Idaho.
After World War II started, Bennett volunteered to go to war and joined the Marines in 1942. Bennett's wife, Mable, said he spent the next few years as a machine gunner with the Marines engaging in several battles, some of which were close calls on his life. During this time, Bennett was hospitalized due to Diphtheria, a serious infection caused by bacteria.
After being discharged in 1945, he got a job working with the Pennsylvania Railroad. Bennett married his wife, Mabel Walker, in 1947, and they have been married for 75 years since.
He was later let go from his railroad job and bought a general store in Harriettsville where they moved to in 1953. Bennett started working at the Airolite factory in Marietta in 1954, where he worked for 33 years before he retired in 1987. The Bennetts sold their business, which was mostly operated by Mabel, to build their family home in 1960, which they still live in to this day.
The Bennetts have raised four daughters, Linda Warner (Donald) of Lower Salem, Dawn Michael (Dave) of Marietta, Judy Parks (Bob) of Caldwell and Sherry Shively of Marietta. Bennett said he is proud of his daughters and their accomplishments in life. The Bennetts have five grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
In his spare time, Bennett enjoys working on puzzles, playing Skip-Bo, a card game, with his friends and attending church at Twin Rivers Baptist Church. He loved the sport of golf and continued to play through his 90s, but recently had to give up all of his physical activities due to a decline in his health.
The Bennetts are planning a celebration with a lawn party at their family home at 36995 Hariettsville Road, Lower Salem, Ohio, 45745. The party will take place from 1-4 p.m. Saturday. The Bennetts said all are welcome to stop by to celebrate this monumental milestone or to send a congradulatory card.
James Dobbs can be reached at
jdobbs@newsandsentinel.com.