Bennie Franklin Oliver Jr.

Bennie Franklin Oliver, Jr. left this earth peacefully to be with His Lord on June 23, 2024 at the age of 86 in New Caney, Texas, surrounded by his family. He was born on November 6, 1937, in Amory, Mississippi to Bennie Franklin Oliver, Sr. and Rebecca Dorothy Benton Oliver. He married Virginia N. Bell on August 24, 1955.

Bennie proudly served in the United States Navy from 1958 to 1964. He loved being in the Navy and at sea aboard the USS Randolph. He received his training there as a Hospital Corpsman / Operating Room Technician. It was while at sea in his bunk that he accepted Christ as his personal Savior. He was a member of the East River Baptist Church in New Caney, TX.

Following his military service, Bennie began his career at Gilmore Memorial Hospital in Amory, MS using the skills he learned in the Navy. He loved working at Gilmore from which he retired. He loved playing the guitar, banjo, and harmonica. He taught two of his granddaughters and his niece to play the guitar so his legacy continues. He loved to “pick and grin” with them all. In his later years, the banjo was his pride and joy. He loved hunting, fishing, and riding his motorcycle. He loved to take his family on rides through the woods on his 4-wheeler. These wonderful memories will be cherished for a lifetime.

Bennie is preceded in death by his parents Bennie Franklin Oliver, Sr. & Rebecca Dorothy Benton Oliver, his wife Virginia Bell Oliver, his great-granddaughter Hannah Elisabeth Hoots and his brother Jimmy Oliver.  

He is survived by his daughter, Cindy Oliver Hoots (Roger); five grandchildren, Crystal Nicole Gathercole (James), April Denice Hoots, Rebecca Ann Hoots, Isaac Nathanael “Nathan” Hoots, Carina Gonzalez, and Rachel Hoots Simmons (Kyle); six great-grandchildren, Ethan Ray Gathercole, Brianna Denice Gathercole, Bronson Young Gathercole, Gavin Young Barfield, Wyatt Preston Gathercole, and Quintin George Barfield, his sister, Janice Oliver Flanagin (Thomas) and many cousins, nieces, nephews and very close friends.

He will be missed greatly and fondly remembered for his gentle spirit, contagious laughter, and joy he brought to all who knew him. Services may be viewed online at erbctexas.org