Wallace Mitchell Bennett

Wallace Mitchell Bennett died on February 27, 2015 at the Moosehaven Retirement Community, Orange Park, Florida,at the age of 90. Wally was born on March 15, 1924 in Cairo, Georgia to Maude Stephens and Kedar Mitchell Bennett. Soon after, the family moved to Sarasota, Florida. While in high school, Wally played in the band, often playing with the Ringling Brothers Circus when they wintered in Sarasota. Upon graduating from Sarasota High School, he joined the Army Air Corps.

When World War II ended, Wally lived in New York City and Washington, D.C. before moving to Jacksonville. There he met Ruth Harris, and they married in 1948. Wally and Ruth lived in Harrisburg, then Wayne, Pennsylvania for several years before returning to Florida, living in Jacksonville, then Delray Beach, before moving back permanently to Jacksonville in 1965.

While on their honeymoon, he began his career with the Haggar Slacks Company, for whom he worked until his recent illness, becoming its longest-tenured employee ever. He was an avid pilot, flying both for pleasure and business. Often, his customers would meet him at their local airport where he would spread out samples on the wings of the airplane, then later give their children a ride in the plane. They always called him “the flying salesman.”

Wally was a member of the Jacksonville Rotary Club, the 200 Club, Timuquana Country Club, and the Florida Yacht Club. He enjoyed summers with his family in Fernandina Beach,playing golf whenever possible.

Wally was predeceased by his parents, his daughter Susan (Larry) Poore, and his brothers, Franklin Alexander Bennett and Julian Stephens Bennett. He is survived by his wife of sixty-six years, Ruth, and his children, Bonnie (Stephen) Maddox, Montgomery, Alabama, Wallace (Laurie) Bennett, Atlanta, Georgia, and Mary Anna (Neal) Gerrard, Greenwood, South Carolina. He is also survived by twelve grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at the Moosehaven Chapel,1701 Park Avenue, Orange Park, Florida on Tuesday, March 3 at 1:00 p.m. Visitation will precede the service from 12:00-1:00 in the chapel. A private burial service will follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the charity of one’s choice if so desired. Arrangements by HARDAGE-GIDDENS RIVERMEAD FUNERAL HOME, 127 Blanding Blvd, Orange Park, FL. Please post words of comfort at www.hardage-giddensrivermead.com