Elizabeth Bennett

Elizabeth (Betty) McClure Bennett, age 96 of Berrien Springs, Michigan, died on Friday, March 16, 2018. Betty was born May 11, 1921, to Reverend Archibald McClure and Hazel Hostetler McClure in South Bend, Indiana, where she spent her childhood.  She attended South Bend Central High School and graduated in 1939 from the Ferry Hall Girl’s Preparatory School in Lake Forest, Illinois.  Betty attended Wellesley College from 1939-1943, where she was recruited for special cryptanalysis training immediately following the outbreak of World War II.  Following her graduation from Wellesley, Betty was inducted into the Navy as part of a secret team of WAVE code-breakers in Washington, D.C., where she served until the end of the war.  Shortly thereafter, she married George (Hi) Bennett on June 22, 1946.  They spent their married life in Berrien Springs, where they were active community members with special interest in the Berrien Springs Public Schools, the Berrien County Youth Fair, and the First Presbyterian Church of Buchanan. She is survived by five children, Betsy (Phil) Zech of Berrien Springs; Anne (Mike) Snyder of Berrien Springs; George (Kim) Bennett Jr. of Dublin, Ohio; Doug (Karen) Bennett of Bloomington, Indiana; and Susan (Dave) Coulston of Niles, Michigan, along with fourteen grandchildren/great grandchildren, and her brother, Archibald McClure of Evanston, Illinois.  She was preceded in death by her husband George in 1977. The family will receive friends from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 21 at Swem Chapel of Starks Family Funeral Homes located at 301 W. Front Street, Buchanan, Michigan 49107.  A memorial service will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 22 at the First Presbyterian Church of Buchanan, 115 W. Front Street, Buchanan, Michigan 49107.  A private burial will precede the memorial service at Riverview Cemetery in South Bend. Memorial contributions may be made to the Berrien Springs Area Endowment Fund (www.berriencommunity.org/BerrienSpringsAreaEndowment)  or the First Presbyterian Church of Buchanan at the address listed above.  Please visit www.swemchapel.com for further details.