John Allen Bennett

Former Maryland resident, John Allen Bennett, 79, of Little River died on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020, in Florence.  Due to the pandemic, a private viewing will be held at his request for his wife, children and grandchildren. A celebration of life will be held at a later date when it is safe to do so, at his home in Little River.

John was born on Sept. 7, 1941, in Lansing, N.C. to Noah and Odell Bennett. He was raised in Ashe County as one of eleven siblings. After graduating from high school in 1958, he moved to Washington,  D.C. In the fall of 1961, he met the love of his life, Jeri Dean of Wheaton, Md., while working at Geico. John and Jeri were wed on June 1, 1963, in Wheaton. John’s favorite pastimes were spending time with  his family, returning home to the mountains and enjoying historic cars. John’s favorite car was his 1960 Chevrolet Impala with a unique black stripe.

John joined the Marine Corps in 1962 and proudly served until 1968. After the Marine Corps, he returned to his job at Geico and was later employed by Allstate from where he retired in 1999.

John is survived by his wife of 57 years, Jeri; his three children, Jeff Bennett (Michelle), Susan Fugate (Carl) and Cindy Hughes (Dan); eight grandchildren, Allison, Kelsie and John Bennett, Cody and Lyle Fugate, Megan (Zac) Erickson and Nathan and Noah Hughes. In addition, he has seven siblings: Bob (Judy) Bennett, Judy (Larry) Neaves, Mary Trivette, Margaret (Glen) Mast, Michael (Diane) Bennett, Rickie (Linda) Bennett and Becky Richardson; and many nieces and nephews.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Noah and Odell Bennett, and his siblings, Jackie Fischer, Charles Bennett and James Bennett.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of John to the American Heart Association http://www2.heart.org/goto/John_Bennett or by mail to: American Heart Association, P.O. Box 841125, Dallas, Texas 75284-1125.

Condolences may be sent to leefhandcrematory.com or to Lee Funeral Home & Crematory, P.O. Box 1116, Little River, S.C. 29566.

Lee Funeral Home & Crematory of Little River/North Myrtle Beach is serving the family.