Paul Bennett

Paul Denney Bennett, Sr. September 28, 1914- July 11, 2011 Colonel, US. Army Reserve (Ret.) Paul was born in Sullivan County, Indiana, to William and Grace (Denney) Bennett, Sept. 28, 1914. He married Iola Buzard in 1939 and celebrated 55 years of marriage before her death in 1996. They had one son, Paul Denney Bennett, Jr., who passed away in 2006. Brothers Melvin Bennett and Herman Bennett and sisters Rose Bennett, Tressie Bennett and Naomi Bennett Klein also preceded Paul in death. Paul was a 1936 graduate of Rose Polytechnic Institute with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. After graduation, he instructed ROTC cadets at Rose, then volunteered for the Army and served with the Army Corps of Engineers from 1940 to 1946, as a Lt. Colonel and Battalion Commander with the 336th Combat Engineer Battalion (Amphibious). He spent two years in the European theater, earning the American Defense Service Medal, the EAME, the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Croix de Guerre. On D-Day, Lt. Colonel Bennett’s Battalion landed on Omaha Beach, where they built roads and moved supplies and equipment for the troops for several months. He received a medal when his battalion set a record for fastest bridge-building and crossing at the Elbe River in 1945. After the war, Paul remained active in the Army Reserve and was promoted to Colonel in 1961, retiring in 1974. In 2007, he recorded his memories of WW II for the Library of Congress Veterans’ History Project. Upon his return to the U. S., Paul taught several courses at Rose Polytechnic before accepting a position with J. L. Simmons Company construction contractors in Indianapolis. He retired as Vice President of Simmons, having worked on the construction of such buildings as the Jordan College of Music at Butler Univ., the Marion County Jail (1966), the Indiana University Memorial Union, Terre Haute North and South High Schools and many others. Paul was a member of Northminster Presbyterian Church and ushered there for many years. He was also a staunch member of the Republican Party and a member of the Masonic Lodge in Shelburn, Indiana. Paul was a master craftsman and builder. He was renowned for his skill in building radio-controlled model airplanes and served as the president of his flying club. Paul also built several boats, including a gorgeous mahogany sea kayak. He enjoyed walking and the outdoors; working in his yard; helping the neighbors; reading newspapers, mystery novels, biographies, and historical studies; and discussing current issues. In recent years, Paul volunteered as a woodworker for the Japan-America Society of Indiana, constructing replica props and structures for cultural events. He will be remembered for his great faith; love of family, friends and neighbors; his patriotism; the ready smile and twinkle in his blue eyes; his ever-present pipe; love of wood-working, building and repair; and the ongoing battle with the squirrels that he enjoyed in his yard. He was a gentleman and a man of dignity. All who knew him were honored to be his friends. Survivors: daughter-in-law Sandra Badgley Bennett, grandchildren Steven (Kala) Bennett and Cari (Caleb) Kingsley, and 8 great-grandchildren, all of Thornton, Colorado; brother-in-law Allen (Wanda) Buzard, Vincennes; niece Susan (Steve) Leonard, Fishers; nephews William (Mary Ann) Bennett, Santa Ana, CA; and Fred (Jayne) Bennett, Hagerstown; and best friend and neighbor Theresa Kulczak. You are invited to go to the Guest Book page to pass along your personal message or tell a story. Sincerely, -Your friends at Flanner and Buchanan