Roy Bennett

Roy T. Bennett, 96, of Center Point, passed away on Thursday, May 3, 2018 in Kerrville. He was born in Sandia, Texas to Bill and Tinie Bennett on October 25, 1921. He married Suzy Gertrude Crawford November 21, 1945 in Houston, Texas. \r\n \r\nHe went to school at Sandia, Texas. He graduated from Sandia High School in 1939 and immediately joined the United States Navy. He served aboard multiple ships as Gunner's Mate. He was at Pearl Harbor aboard the Battleship USS Tennessee when the Japanese attacked December 7, 1941. He was in turret #3 heavily damaged by a bomb that split but never detonated. As the story from him goes "three sailors on my left and four on my right were killed . . . I was in the middle and never received a scratch." Roy had a distinguished career serving on the West and East Coast as well as tours in the Mediterranean. Roy served as a Navy Recruiter in Kerrville from 1959 until his retirement from the Navy as Gunner's Mate Chief (GMC) July 1962. The next week he went to work for the Veterans Administration in Kerrville, Texas and again retired in 1984 as the Assistant Building Manager. After two retirements, he finally had time to fully pursue his passions of hunting, fishing and gardening. At one point he was making 3-4000 rings of deer sausage a year using them as his bartering tool. He would trade sausage for work done by plumbers, electricians, mechanics, painters, welders, nurseries, basically any work that he needed done. One grandson was under the opinion he could pay for college tuition with the sausage. His hunting skills and craft of meat processing are in good hands with Ken, Jeffrey and Michael. His gardening skills were next to none. He always planted a spring and fall garden filled with tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, green beans and peppers. It seemed he shared his bounty with half of Kerr County. \r\n \r\nHis fishing skills were far better than average. One spring he and his best friend, A.K. Knox, caught 365 lbs of Yellow Catfish from Flat Rock Lake, the largest being 63 pounds.\r\n \r\nRoy was involved in the Veterans of Foreign War, American Legion and the Masonic Lodge.\r\n \r\nRoy was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years; parents; brother, William (WL); sister, Nelle; and numerous brothers-and sisters-in-law.\r\n \r\nRoy is survived by his son, Kenneth and wife Anna; grandsons, Jeffrey (Miranda) and Michael; and great-granddaughter, Violet Alicia. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and his good friend of many years, Rae Doppler Garrett.\r\n \r\nVisitation will be from 5-7 PM, Wednesday, May 9, 2018 at Grimes Funeral Chapels. \r\n\r\nFuneral Services will be held at 10 AM, Thursday, May 10, 2018 at Grimes Funeral Chapels in Kerrville with Jonathan Park of Christian Church Center Point, officiating. Burial will follow at Center Point Cemetery. \r\n \r\nMemorials may be given to the Shriners Hospital for Children.\r\n \r\nRoy's family wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Doctors Allen, Martin, Fritzsch, and Barrington and their caring staff as well as his extended family from Home Base Primary Care, VA Unit 6A (Soaring Eagle), and Christian Church of Center Point. \r\n