Joan Bennett went to be with her heavenly Father, May 17, 2024. She was born April 21, 1943, to Ruth Mangum Hibbitt and Thomas Howard Hibbitt in Corpus Christi, Texas. The family returned to Tyler in 1945, whereupon her mother went to work for the Ramirez Family at Gilbert’s El Charo Café. She spent many happy hours following her mom around the restaurant. At age 17 she joined the Army. After basic training in Alabama, she was stationed in Chicago, Illinois, where she met the man she would eventually marry. Upon completion of military service, she returned to Tyler. Daniel followed soon after, and they were married in 1963. They remained married until his death in 1998. They raised a beautiful daughter and two mischievous boys.
Joan worked for the City of Tyler Police Department in the 70’s as a dispatcher. She moved to the Smith County Sheriff’s Department as a deputy. After three years, she returned to the City of Tyler Police Department, working in their records division. She was promoted to records supervisor in 1981, and remained in this position until 1992, leaving to care for her terminally ill 28-year-old daughter, Teresa Bennett.
After the passing of her daughter and husband she embarked upon a four-month adventure to Alaska, taking in the sights and sounds of nature’s beauty and participating in the annual salmon harvest with her sister, brother-in-law and niece, Debbie. After returning from this adventure, she was employed as the overnight greeter at Walmart on Hwy 64 for seventeen years, until her health dictated that she retire at the age of 79.
Joan was preceded in death by her parents, daughter, and husband. She is survived by her sister, Winnie Johnson, her two sons, Daniel Bennett (Jill) and Robert Bennett (Kelley), and by grandchildren, Brittany Bennett, Beau Bennett, Emma Luster (Eric), Abbey Bennett and two great grandchildren.
Special thanks to her caregivers, her niece, Linda Berry and husband, Jimmy Berry, who saw to her daily needs.
Visitation will be held at Tyler Memorial Park, Thursday, May 23, 2024, from 2:00-2:30 p.m., immediately followed by a Memorial Service in the Chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Joan’s honor to St. Jude’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
