Carl Henry Bennett

Carl enjoyed life to the fullest, often finding humor, friendships and commonalities while serving congregations, meeting new people, traveling and enjoying the outdoors. Over the course of his well lived life, Carl traveled the US and Canada fishing and camping and remained a devoted Cardinals baseball fan.

He was born to Adrian and Millie Bennett in Libertyville, Mo, the youngest of 4, and the only boy. His father was a lead miner who died when Carl was 12 years old. The family had a small plot of land that they farmed to reduce reliance on the company store. They were very active in their local church in the Missouri Ozarks, the Church of God, where Carl was quickly recognized as a leader and promoted. After graduating from Libertyville High School, he attended Finley College in Ohio, where he met his future bride, Mildred L Alexander. They married in May of 1951.

Keeping with his upbringing and remaining loyal to the traditions observed by his family, Carl and his 2 good friends were evangelists, conducting many revivals and hymn sings during college. Upon college graduation, he taught school and was a principal for a year, when he decided to further his education and enrolled in Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis. After receiving a theological education, he left the Church of God and spent the rest of his life as a Presbyterian minister. He served churches in Joplin, Mo, Olney IL, Centralia, Il, and Edwardsville IL. He retired from full time ministry in 1987, being named Pastor Emeritus of the First Presbyterian Church of Edwardsville. Carl found ways to bring people together from all walks of life and his ministry was one of openness, acceptance, and warmth. He served in multiple leadership roles in Elijah Lovejoy Presbytery, and in the communities where he lived. After he retired, he continued to answer the needs of the church by serving as interim pastor in both Presbyterian and Methodist churches, a role which he found enjoyable and meaningful.

He and Milly had 3 children, Deborah Sanborne (Lew), Hope Bennett (Lynn Jenkins), and Tim Bennett (Wendy Margolis). They enjoyed spoiling their grandchildren, David Sanborne (Brittany), Tommy Sanborne, Meara Madison (Alan), Sandy Borgen, Marley Bennett, and Zoe Bennett and 2 great grandchildren, Sloane Madison, and Felix Sanborne.

Carl met and married Leila Jo McCrory in March of 2007, who survives him. Carl remained steadfast and open that he wanted to lie at rest in perpetuity next to Milly in Edwardsville, Illinois.

Predeceasing Carl were his parents, his wife Milly, his sisters, Ethel Long, Glenna Shaw, Meldean Watts; a nephew, Claude Long Jr., and a grand nephew, Vincent Long.

His great grandson Felix said, “If you keep doing things that other people loved or taught you, and think about them while doing it, then their memory will always live on in you. I will always think of Grandpa Carl while fishing.”

A memorial service will be held in the Spring of 2026 at the First Presbyterian Church in Edwardsville, IL. Inurnment will take place at the Valley View Cemetery in Edwardsville. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be left to the First Presbyterian Church, Edwardsville, IL.