CARL BENNETT

CARL BENNETT, 97 1/2, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 15, 2013, with his loving family by his side. He was born on Dec. 7, 1915, in Rockford, Ind. He graduated from North Side High School in 1934. In 1939, he and Margaret Jane Schuster were married. Later he married Carol Popp in 1989. He was employed by International Harvester, Seyferts Foods and Zollner Piston Company. His career with Zollner included player, coach, manager, and the athletic director of the basketball and softball teams. He was elected the President of both the National Basketball and National Fastball Leagues. During his tenure with the Zollner teams, they won 16 championships. In 1948 and 1949 during the Zollner Piston Basketball season, the National Basketball League and the National Basketball Association of America met in Fort Wayne to form the National Basketball Association (NBA). He retired from the Zollner Company in 1955 and owned and operated in partnership the Kinney-Bennett Vending Company. Thereafter, he owned the Classic Company. He served on numerous boards and committees in the community, including the NBA, The NBA Hall of Fame, Lakeside Golf Course, Bermuda Dunes Golf Club, The Fort Wayne County Club, Anthony Wayne Bank, Summit Bank, Mad Anthony Golf Championship, and the Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of Holy Cross Church. His faithful family gave him great joy. He is survived by his wife, Carol Popp Bennett; sons, Kirk and Gary Bennett; daughter, Sandra Dodane; stepdaughter, Catherine Popp Hoffman; sister, Bertha Bennett Christie; 11 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his grandson, Jamie Dodane; great-grandson, Alex Dodane; and brothers, Dale, Francis, Max, and Lawrence. Funeral is 2 p.m. Sunday, May 19, 2013, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 3425 Crescent Ave., with visitation one hour prior. The Rev. Thomas Ahlersmeyer officiating. Visitation also from 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 18, 2013, at D.O. McComb & Sons Covington Knolls Funeral Home, 8325 Covington Road, Fort Wayne. Memorials to honor Carl's memory are the Mad Anthony Hope House and Worship for Shut-Ins. To sign the online guestbook, please visit www.mccombandsons.com