James S. Bennett's Obituary
James Stephen Bennett was born the 9th of 11 children on August 9, 1919, in Wolf Summit, W. VA. son of Ella Gay and Stephens Ernest Bennett. He married Naomi L. Lynch of Salem W. Va. in 1943. James graduated from WVU with a B.S Degree in Agriculture. Following active duty with the Army Air Force, he was employed in Ohio by the USDA Soil and Water Conservation Service as Assistant State Conservationist where he was inducted into the Ohio Conservationist Hall of Fame. He was appointed as State Conservationist in West Virginia in 1970. Bennett received the highest honor in a Fellow Recognition by the SCS of America, the USDA Super Service Award for Rural Development, was first President of the Alumni Association for the College of Agriculture and Forestry, served as Chairman of the WVU Rural Progress Organization, was Chairman of the Membership Committee of the West Virginia University Agricultural and Forestry Hall of Fame and was inducted into the Gamma Sigma Delta Honor society at WVU. He received the Distinguished Alumnus Award for the West Virginia University College of Agriculture and Forestry.James and Naomi retired to Cape Coral, Fla. in 1977 where he became Chairman of the Kiwanis Environmental Conservation Committee. Jim was excited and proud of the many projects accomplished during this time: he established a Kiwanis Tree Identification Area at Jaycee Park and Tree Planning Days for Cape Coral; organized and was President of Cape Coral Beautification Committee; served as Chairman of the Cape Coral Parks and Recreation Advisory Board for five years. Other Kiwanis projects included Kiwanis Gardens (formerly the old city dump at Lake Kennedy) featuring a waterfall, handicap fishing pier and a gazebo at the entrance to Sunsplash; many educational projects with community and schools. In 2003 James was nominated by Kiwanis as a candidate for Cape Coral Citizen of the Year.James is preceded in death by his mother, Ella Gay; father, Stephen E.; brothers: Lester, Kemble, Harold, Claude, Robert, Allen, Jackie, and sisters Mabel, June, and Mary, son-in-law Roger Stephens (Marjorie). He is survived by his loving wife, Naomi Lee of 71 years, daughters Judy Chester, Marjorie Stephens, and son Stephen Bennett (Karen); grandchildren Meagan Hedrick (Michael), Mollie Weikert (Scott), Nathan Chester (Victoria), Lisa Wilcut (Dave), Erin Wilson (Rob), Jimmy Bennett (Katie); and great grandchildren Sydney and Mackenzie Hedrick; Bronwyn, Ella and Charlotte Weikert; Bode and Ryann Chester; Elijah and Benjamin Wilcut; Tanner and Max Wilson; Graham Bennett. Or a charity of your choiceService will be held at Rutherford Funeral Home, Worthington, Ohio. www.rutherfordfuneralhome.com/Worthington_460105Family Visitation 11:00, open visitation 12:00, service at 1:00. Interment will follow the service at Union Cemetery www.unioncemeterycolumbus.comIn lieu of flowers, please donate to the Wounded Warrior Project . www.woundedwarriorproject.org
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