Eldon Royal "Don" Bennett

Eldon {Don} Royal Bennett, died unexpectedly and peacefully in Manchester on November 10, 2025, at 91 years old.

Eldon was born on July 30, 1934, in Canaan, New Hampshire to Lula May (Riddle) Bennett and Royal James Bennett. Eldon was raised in Grafton, New Hampshire where he went to school through eighth grade. He attended Lebanon High School where he played football and ran track.

After a 2-year tour of duty in the US Air Force, at Loring AFB in Limestone, Maine, he returned to his hometown of Grafton, NH and married Marie Huntoon on September 14, 1957. After serving his country, he pursued a college degree and graduated from New England College in just 3 years with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. He accomplished this while simultaneously working full-time and starting a young family. In 1962, Eldon and Marie moved from Concord, New Hampshire to Weirs Beach, New Hampshire. While in the Weirs, Eldon volunteered at the local fire department. Four years after moving to the Weirs, they settled in Bedford, NH where they raised their four children - Dawn, Dale, LuAnn and Gail.

Eldon was a Structural Civil Engineer with a passion for designing everything in concrete. The world would have been made from concrete if he had his way. He had the courage to start several companies centered around his passion for concrete buildings. They included Con-Create, Inc of Concord, NH; Newstress International of Epsom, NH and CFI Fencing in FL. He holds a patent for a concrete fencing system which he designed while living in Florida.

Although Eldon and Marie eventually divorced, they both continued to instill the importance of continuing learning throughout life and encouraged their children and others to go to college. His children remember Eldon as the life of the party and someone who always encouraged them to reach for the stars.

Eldon was predeceased by his parents Lula and Royal Bennett and his four siblings - Arleen (Bennett) Neil, Winnifred (Bennett) Sargent, Cecil James Bennett and Lloyd Bennett.

Surviving family members include his four children, Dawn (Philip) Tuomala, Dale Bennett and (Paula Milkey), LuAnn Bennett and Gail (William) Davenport. He also has five grandchildren, Janna (Tuomala) Yeaton, Adam (Laura) Bennett and Ryan Bennett and Kevin and Carl Davenport along with 8 great grandchildren. Eldon also has three surviving sisters-in-law - Virginia (Ford) Bennett, Louise Huntoon and Lorraine (Austin) Wason, a brother-in-law, Mert Austin and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

All are welcome to attend a celebration of Eldon's life at Chadwick Funeral Home, 235 Main Street, New London at 10am on Saturday, 22-November-2025 followed by burial in the Pine Grove Cemetery in Grafton New Hampshire.

Eldon had a history of contributing to several of his favorite causes throughout his lifetime and therefore, in lieu of flowers, please send donations to either Wounded Warriers Project at https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org or Tunnel 2 Towers (T2T) at Donate - Tunnel to Towers Foundation.