Daryl Wayne Bennett

September 4, 1952 – December 26, 2018

Daryl Wayne Bennett was born on September 4, 1952, in Memphis, Tennessee, and died on December 26, 2018, in Southlake, Texas, with his loving wife Carol by his side.

Daryl was preceded in death by his parents, Velma and James Vernon Bennett, Jr., and by his brother, James Vernon Bennett III. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Carol Grey Bennett, and their four children, Daniel Bennett and wife Whitney of Washington, Illinois; Andrew Bennett and wife Julia of Dickinson, Texas; Matthew Bennett and wife Amy of Fort Worth, Texas; and Emily Thompson and husband Ben of ¬¬¬Fort Worth, Texas . He is the beloved grandfather of 13 grandchildren: Hannah, Austin, Noah, and Ellie Bennett; Alyssa, Brooke, Josiah, Drew, and Michael Bennett; Aiden and Owen Bennett, along with a granddaughter soon to be born; and Luke Thompson. He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Ruby Young of Bedford, Texas; his sister and brother-in-law, Vanita and Terry Briley of Plano, Texas; his sister-in-law, Virginia Bennett of Wilsonville, Alabama; and his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Teresa and Tom Hammond of Madison, Alabama.

Daryl grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, where he graduated from White Station High School. He received a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and a Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Tennessee Tech.

He met the love of his life at a Christian retreat in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. He and Carol were married on December 13, 1975, and over the years they lived in Virginia, Tennessee, and south Texas before settling in Bedford, Texas, where they have lived for nearly 30 years.

Daryl was a natural mentor. Whether at work, church, home, or in the community, he simply loved to help people grow personally, professionally and spiritually. He may have been a civil engineer by profession, but his life’s work extended far beyond that as he continually sought out opportunities to teach, train, nurture, and encourage others.

He was a Cubmaster for Pack 407 in Bedford for six years. He faithfully served as an elder for Countryside Bible Church in Southlake for more than 15 years. He was a leader in the AWANA child and youth discipleship program for over 20 years, teaching them not only about the Bible, but also how to become teachers of the scriptures themselves.

In 1981, his passion for helping people led him to participate in a humanitarian project that would provide water for the people of Burkina Faso in French West Africa. In 2011, he returned to Africa as part of a mission project to disciple and train pastors in Kenya.

His long career in engineering included positions with Pape-Dawson Engineers, Waste Management, and TEAM Consultants, as well as starting his own business. In 2013, he established a new branch of East Texas Testing Labs (ETTL) in Arlington, Texas, and helped guide it to a position of profitability in just five years.

Although Daryl suffered with multiple myeloma for 11 years, he never succumbed to the disease. His countenance remained cheerful and he lived life to the fullest despite the challenges and setbacks. When his illness began to sap his strength, he made a conscious decision not to retire, as he wanted to enjoy working and being productive as long as he could.

He was known as a man of integrity, responsibility, discipline, kindness, ingenuity, quiet strength and unselfish spirit. He loved to play jokes on people, he loved to play games, and he especially loved to win. He really loved the Tennessee Volunteers.

Above all, he loved God and he loved his family, and his life reflected these priorities.

Daryl consistently spent time with the Lord in the mornings. His children all have sweet memories of walking past their parents’ room many mornings and seeing their Dad on his knees praying. If he couldn't sleep, Carol would often wake up to find him kneeling at the recliner, praying. Every evening, the family spent time reading the Bible and praying together. He loved to teach young fathers how to lead their families in devotions. "Keep it simple," he would tell them. "But do it." Psalm 78:4b reads, “But tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.”

The family will receive visitors on Friday, December 28, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Bluebonnet Hills Funeral Home in Colleyville, Texas. The funeral will be held on Saturday, December 29, at 1:00 p.m. at Countryside Bible Church in Southlake, Texas, followed by a graveside service at Bluebonnet Hills Memorial Park in Colleyville. The service will be available to view live on www.CountrysideBible.org.