June 29, 1920 - January 12, 2018
Col. Charles Theron Bennett Obituary
Charles Chuck Bennett of Spokane Valley, WA, 97, passed away in his sleep on January 12, 2018. He had been ill with the flu. Chuck was born June 29, 1920, in Poplar Bluff, Butler County, MO, son of Charles Elmer Bennett and Stella Elizabeth Jones. They moved to Jackson, MI, when he was 11. He had a younger sister, Evelyn. Chuck won a prestigious national art award in high school for a Madonna carving. Charles T. Bennett and Phyllis Jane Creglow were married in Jackson on February 14, 1942, before he entered the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. They lived in Florida and Georgia during his military training. Chuck received his officers commission in October 1943 as a B-17 pilot. Capt. Bennett was stationed at Thurleigh, Bedfordshire, England, and flew 35 missions, including D-Day. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters (meritorious achievement). He returned from England in January 1945, remaining on active duty until November 1946 when they moved to Spokane, WA. Chuck continued his military service there in the Air Force Reserves at Fairchild Air Force Base. He was called up during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 and retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in November 1966. Chuck and Phylliss first two children were stillborn and the third, Tom, lived only six days. He is buried in Jackson. In 1948 they adopted a newborn boy, Charles R. Chuck. True to the clich, a daughter, Teresa Fay, was born to them nine months later. Chuck always made sure the family had fun annual vacations and holidays. He was an upbeat optimist, often humming or singing as he puttered. He was very handy and kept his home and cars in top condition, making many artistic and practical items for the house. He was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Veradale, WA, for many years, and worked for Coeur dAlenes Co. as a steel sales engineer. Chuck and Phyllis had a tremendous amount of fun in their 75 years together. Together, they made several of the beautiful banners and hangings at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. He installed the hardware for the drapes that Phyllis made in her business, Phyls Drapery Shop. They built a beautiful home in the hills at Veradale in 1975. In later years, they traveled to Europe and throughout the U.S. Phyllis passed away in 2015. Survivors include his son and daughter-in-law, Chuck and Cherie Bennett of Salem, OR; daughter and son-in-law, George and Teresa Conrad of Greenacres, WA; niece, Christine Crick of Spokane; step-granddaughter, Jill Young of Wilmington, OH; and step-grandson, James Conrad of Beaverton, OR. His sister, Evelyn Phelps, pre-deceased him. There will be a memorial service at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, March 10, at Advent Lutheran Church, 13009 E. Broadway Ave., Spokane Valley. Inurnment will be in Greenwood Memorial Terrace, Spokane. The family suggests memorial gifts to Advent Lutheran Church in lieu of flowers.