Peter Bennett

1930 - 2021

Peter Bennett

5/16/1930 - 3/28/2021

Peter Hayden Bennett, age 90, died Sunday, March 28, 2021, at his home in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Known as "Pete" to his friends, but "Hayden" or "Cork" to family in Toledo and elsewhere, he was born May 16, 1930, in Toledo to the late Emmalyn O. and Byron B. Bennett.

A 1948 graduate of Ottawa Hills High School, where he served as senior class president, Hayden attended the University of Michigan for a year before transferring to the University of Toledo to be closer to his high school girlfriend, Sally Carter (DeVilbiss H.S, class of 1948). After graduating with a degree in Electrical Engineering in 1952, he and Sally were married on August 16, 1952. He then began service with the U.S. Army Signal Corp, eventually attaining the rank of Lieutenant. The Bennetts' first child was born in 1953, shortly before Hayden was sent to Korea for a year.

After his return to civilian life, Hayden began his career in telecommunications in 1955 at The North Electric Company in Galion, OH. He went on to take subsequent positions at ITT, RCA, and the Telecommunications Industry Association in Washington, DC, as the Bennett family, which added a second daughter in 1956 and a third in 1967, moved from Galion to Puerto Rico to New Jersey, and finally to Columbia, Maryland.

After Hayden's retirement in 1995, the Bennetts moved to Pennsylvania, nearer their oldest daughter and only grandchild. They enjoyed an active retirement, traveling widely; Hayden also volunteered in the ER at the local hospital, and worked out regularly at the Carlisle YMCA, where he was known to socialize and flirt more than he actually exercised. He and Sally enjoyed lavishing love on a series of canine companions over the years as well, beginning with Schon and Taffy in Puerto Rico, and continuing with Seabiscuit, Elspeth, Grover, Abby, Zeke, and a final beloved dog, Waldo, who was at Hayden's side until the very end.

For the nearly nine years since Sally's death, Hayden was lovingly cared for in his own home by his daughter, Carrie Bennett, with additional assistance during his final weeks from a wonderful care team from SpiriTrust Lutheran Hospice and several other loving caretakers.

In addition to his parents, Hayden was predeceased by his brother, Joseph Ford "Skip" Bennett II, in 1956; and his wife of nearly 60 years, Sally Carter Bennett, in 2012. Survivors include his daughters, Caroline Bennett, with whom he lived in Carlisle; Barbara Bennett Houston, also of Carlisle; Kimberly Bennett, of Trumansburg, NY; and grand-daughter, Alexandra Houston, of Chicago, IL.

Hoffman Funeral Home and Crematory in Carlisle handled all arrangements. There will be no services, and Hayden's cremains will be interred with Sally's in the Bennett family plot at Historic Woodlawn Cemetery in Toledo. Friends and family are invited to view the full obituary and to share reminiscences and stories at www.hoffmanfh.com.