Margaret Jane Bennett

1917 - 2014

Margaret Jane Bennett passed away on January 9, 2014 at the age of 96.
Margaret was born to Ray E. and Clara Forte Corrigan in Fenton, Michigan on December 29, 1917.  When she was a young girl, her parents moved to Glendale, California. Her sister, Libby was born shortly thereafter. Margaret attended local schools and graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles where she was a member of the Alpha Phi sorority.  During college, Margaret met, and married Robert W. Bennett.  World War II separated the newlyweds after making their first home in Long Beach, California.  At the end of the war, they moved to Porterville to live on the family citrus farm and raise their four children.
Margaret dedicated her life to her family and always put her children and grandchildren first.  She took great joy and pride in their lives and accomplishments.  She also enjoyed volunteering for others.  For over fifty years she was an active member of the Las Madrinas Guild of Children's Hospital Central California. While she was President of Las Madrinas it held one of its most successful fund raising events by bringing Bob Hope to Visalia.  In 1970, Margaret opened her own travel business, Sierra West Travel in Porterville, which fostered her and Bob's love for traveling the world.  Together they led agricultural and high school band tours to the farthest reaches of the earth.
Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Elizabeth "Libby" Svenson of Van Nuys and her husband, Bob.  She is survived by her children: Jane B. Fortune and her husband Larry of Fresno, and their children, Katherine and Patrick, Richard W. Bennett, his wife Jenny of Exeter and their daughters Olivia, Lily, Lucy and Lena, Robert S. "Buck" Bennett, his wife Kay of Rancho Sante Fe and their children, Crosby and Kiley, and William M. "Mike" Bennett and his wife Martia of Ducor and their children Matt, Adam, Casey and Brooke, and three great grandchildren; Abigail, Henry and Mackenzie.
A service celebrating the life of Margaret Bennett will be at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 14 at Myers Funeral Home at 248 North "E" Street in Porterville. Margaret wished for any remembrances be made to Las Madrinas Guild of Children's Hospital Central California. Mail Stop PC17, Children's Hospital Central California, 9300 Valley Children's Place, Madera CA 93636-9883.