Gordon Bennett

BENNETT (Continued) San Francisco Chronicle. His story "Eagles" was a winner in the Catholic Press Association Short Story Competition. He has served as a short-story judge for the Edgar Awards of the Mystery Writers of America and, locally, as a short-story judge for college writers' conferences. He is a member and past board member (also past president) of the Virginia Writers Club Inc. and, with Lois, a founding member of the Travelers Chapter. In 2002 Lois and Gordon were recognized by the Virginia Writers Club for their lifetime contributions to their craft. Coaster collecting lost out to philately. He assembled a world class collection of WWI and WWII Swiss soldier stamps, about which he was a recognized authority in the philatelic world. With his wife he ran a small company L.F. Bennett Services, specializing in unusual philatelia. He also found time to collect toy buses, trolleys, and related public transport. Much to Lois's chagrin, he amassed a sizable collection, a part of which was exhibited at the Carpenter Museum. He is survived by his children, Liane Bennett, Damian Bennett, Christian Bennett and his wife, Sheila Jones Bennett, Jannequin Bennett, Hilary Doyle, Kyryn Bennett, and Meaghan Bennett; his grandchildren, Olivia Gee, James Bennett, Pearl Gee, and Theresa Bennett; his sister-in-law, Mary Ellen Monahan and Sandra Bennett; along with 17 nieces and nephews. Arrangements are being made by Purviance Chapel of J.T.Morris & Son Funeral Home, www.jtmorriss.com. A Catholic wake will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, April 19 at Purviance Chapel of J.T. Morriss Funeral Home, 11414 General Mahone Highway, Wakefield Va. 23888. The funeral is at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 20 at The Shrine of the Infant of Prague, 417 N. County Drive, also in Wakefield (across from the Virginia Diner). To send flowers, please call Ashley's Florist in Wakefield, 1-800-822-1029, or visit the website: www.ashleysfloristandantiques.com.



This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.