Walter William Bennett

Walter “Wally” Bennett, 78, of Sodus, was carried home in the arms of Jesus, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, unexpectantly at Spectrum Health Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph. The family will receive guests from 10am until time of funeral service at 11am, Monday, August 2, 2021, at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church, 4071 Naomi Rd., Sodus. Burial to follow at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Sodus. Memorial contributions may be given to Sodus Township Fire Department, Sodus Township Library, and the Gary Sinise Foundation (garysinisefoundation.org). Those wishing to leave an online condolence for the family may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Wally was born October 11, 1942 in Sodus to Calvin and Frieda (Ertman) Bennett. He graduated from Benton Harbor High School, class of 1961. While in high school he obtained his private pilot’s license. Starting a lifetime of service, he enlisted in the Air Force and served 4 years as an airborne radar and radio technician. After his honorable discharge, his love of flight brought him to Spartan School of Aeronautics, and afterwards he was the pilot in command for a private corporation, as well as a master carpenter. He volunteered at the Sodus Township Fire Department for many years retiring as Fire Chief. For his church he served in leadership positions, led youth groups, went on mission trips, mowed lawns, built the baptismal font and supported his faith family at Chapel Hill. Anyone who needed anything knew they could call Wally. He spent many years at Gast Manufacturing, retiring as the Facilities Engineer. While there he was honored with the International Facilities Management Award. In 1978 he was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer. After many surgeries, years of chemotherapy, radiation, and perfusion, his right arm had to be amputated. Being right-handed, life adjustments happened overnight. With a deep faith and persistent determination, he went back to woodworking creating heirloom toys and furniture out of cherry. He had not flown for years due to his illness. A beloved friend, Tim Gaipa, approached him after of a decade of not flying and encouraged him to fly again. With Tim and Mike Kinney’s persistence Wally was in the air again in 1997. He continued his passion by purchasing his own plane, and taking many adventurous trips, including one north of the arctic circle with his brother Cal in a single engine light aircraft. He was a man full of love, grace, compassion, determination, and faith. Wally’s sermon was not preached from a pulpit, but in the way he lived his life. He knew with certainty that there was nothing that he could do to earn God’s love or separate him from this amazing grace. It was a gift that he shared with every breath he took. Wally is survived by his wife of 49 years, Linda (Neumann) Bennett, whom he married October 2, 1971, in St. Joseph; his children, Jennifer (Dr. Scott) Saxe, and Cody (Lori) Bennett; his grandchildren, SPC Walter Saxe, PFC Katherine Saxe, and Lauren Bennett; and his siblings, Kate (the late Ron) Crossman, Cal (the late Sue) Bennett, and Denny (Michelle) Bennett. He is preceded in death by his parents, sister Lillian and brother Alan.