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Claude Bennett Obituary
Born in Omaha, Nebraska on December 6, 1936 to Mr. Claude Bennett and Dr. Ruth Hull Bennett of Ovid, Colorado, he married Betty Kathryn Mundell shortly after their graduation from Colorado A&M in 1958. He did research in Australia as a Fulbright Scholar and earned a doctorate in Rural Sociology from Cornell in 1964. Dr. Bennett served on the faculties of the Universities of Kentucky and Arizona before joining the US Department of Agriculture, where he made important contributions to the field of program evaluation.
After his retirement in 2002, Dr. and Mrs. Bennett led a decade-long ministry of English language tutoring in partnership with National Presbyterian Church and the McGilvary Seminary in Chiang Mai, Thailand. He also served on the board of directors of the Central Union Mission in Washington.
He is survived by his beloved wife Betty; son Fraser Bennett of Duncanville, Texas; daughter Brynell Austin of Warren, Pennsylvania; and grandchildren Ruth, Samuel, Isaac, Ann, and Sarah Bennett.
A memorial service will be held on December 6, 2024 at 2 p.m. at Good Shepherd Church, Cedar Hill, Texas.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Claude Bennett
5 Entries
J.
December 6, 2024
May God's promise found in John 6:40, of the hope to see our loved ones again, comfort your heart and give you peace, strength, and hope in the days ahead.
Margie Benson
December 6, 2024
What a fine, erudite, Christian gentleman! Claude made memorable impressions on SO many of us at National Presbyterian Church, especially in missions and music. We will be thinking of him when we sing "Messiah" at next week´s concert and, of course, at the sing along at Kennedy Center! Memory eternal........
Kathleen Tevnan
December 5, 2024
From the choir at Attonement when I was a teenager, to singing hymns next to him a few years ago, in the congregation of the National Presbyterian Church. (where I thought to myself, "oh yeah, this guy can sing!") Knowing Claude Bennett was an enriching and life long experience. From his long and involved email rants, to his quick laugh, his deep faith and his desire to help others, he touched many, I know I am a better person for knowing him.
Keri Jacobs
December 4, 2024
Our church family in Maryland misses Claude. We have such special memories of his contribution to music and the choir. He always was friendly and full of joy. Our prayers are with you as you miss him.
Bryn Austin
November 18, 2024
My father loved music -- especially sacred music, choral music, and classical music.
Whenever I hear the song "How Great Thou Art" I remember my dad singing it as a solo in church. I also remember that he and his friends would stand in long lines to score tickets to the annual "Messiah Sing-Along" at the Kennedy Center -- then bring their own annotated scores to the long-anticipated event. At major holidays, Dad always led our family (and dinner guests) in singing at least one hymn before we sat down to Mom's home-cooked meal -- usually prefaced by contextual stories about the composer's life or faith. Another long-ago memory of my Dad and his love of music -- when my brother and I were little kids, instead of telling us a bedtime story, he would sit just outside our rooms and play guitar and sing for us. One of our frequents requests was "Waltzing Matilda" -- a song I presume he learned when he and my mom lived in Adelaide, Australia.
I miss you *so* much, Daddy! Yet I know you are loving singing praises with the heavenly choir.
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