Richard H. Bennett, Jr.

Richard H. Bennett, Jr., 86, passed away on Friday, December 4, 2015 in Bradenton, FL. He was born on November 24, 1929 in Nichols, GA to the late Richard H. (Sr.) and
Edna (Wilcox) Bennett.

Richard grew up on a farm in Blackshear, GA and moved to Bradenton, FL in 1947. He graduated in 1948 from Manatee High School in Bradenton, FL.

Richard served with the U.S. Army beginning in 1951 and was sent to Germany with the 315th Signal Battalion beginning in 1951. After his military service he followed in the footsteps of his father-in-law (Henry Blake Thackston) and worked as the Manager of the Firestone store in downtown Bradenton for 30+ years. After his retirement from Firestone he managed a post office annex on Cortez Road in Bradenton for 15 years.

Richard married Nancy (Thackston) in 1951 in Bradenton, FL. They were happily married for 63 years.

Richard was a long time member of the Bradenton Rotary Club and a volunteer with Meals on Wheels Plus. He was an avid fisherman, real estate investor, and loved to travel the world with his wife Nancy.

Richard was predeceased by his loving wife, Nancy, in September of 2014, two brothers and one sister, and is survived by his three caring daughters; Linda Bennett of Mesa, AZ, Sandra (Ken) Lee of Sarasota, Elizabeth (Rick) Robinson of Tampa, four precious grandchildren; Scott and Stephen Bennett of Mesa, AZ, Richard and Lindsey Robinson of Tampa, sister, Virginia Victor of Panama City, FL, sister-in-law, Barbara (William B.) King of Bradenton, FL, and many extended family members and friends.

The family will receive friends beginning at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 10, 2015 at Shannon Funeral Home Westview Chapel, 5610 Manatee Avenue West, Bradenton followed by a Celebration of Richard’s life at 3:00 p.m. with the Reverend J. Sterling Forrester officiating.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to Salvation Army, P.O. Box 1179, Bradenton, FL 34206 (www.salvationarmyusa.org/) or Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee, 811 23rd Avenue East, Bradenton, FL 34208 (www.mealsonwheelsplus.org/) in his memory.

Condolences for the family may be left online at www.shannonfuneralhomes.com.