More detail on this person: Sept. 14, 1931 - June 19, 2014 Kent Bennetts passed from this life at his home in Olathe on June 19, 2014. He was born September 14, 1931 in Flint, Michigan, the son of Weldon J. and Mabel E. (Weaver) Bennetts. He graduated from Fenton High School, Fenton, Michigan in 1949 and attended Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa, prior to enlisting in the United States Army in 1951. Kent served in the Korean War with the 68th Engineering Company and afterward was accepted for Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Infantry and later entered the Medical Service Corps. After completing his initial military service, he attended the University of Missouri at Kansas City School of Pharmacy. Kent re-entered the U.S. Army in 1957 and became a helicopter pilot. He served in Viet Nam as a member of the "DUSTOFF" medical evacuation team during the 1965-66 buildup of American forces. Kent retired from active military service at the rank of Major after a 23 year career. He was a senior aviator and was awarded the Air Medal with 8 oak leaf clusters, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, the Combat Medical Badge as well as numerous other decorations during his career. Kent was a member of the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Viet Nam Helicopter Pilots' Association, the Solo Pilot Association and the DUSTOFF Association. After retiring from the Army, Kent graduated from the Research Medical Center School of Nursing in 1977, having served as President of his class. He worked as an ICU nurse at Cushing Hospital in Leavenworth, KS from 1977 - 1980 and then as an industrial nurse with the Hallmark Company in Leavenworth until his retirement in 1989. Kent also was a volunteer camp nurse for Camp Adventure, a camp for children and young adults with spina bifida, cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy. Kent served as the president of the Leavenworth County Mental Health Association for four years and was a member of its Board of Directors for nine years. He was a lay minister for the Community of Christ and also volunteered with the Leavenworth County Office of Emergency Preparedness, working both as a nurse and weather spotter. He also was on the Board of Directors for Nurturing Families, Inc. Kent was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 54 years, Mary Louise Bennetts, his daughter Diane Bennett, his parents and a sister and brother. He is survived by his sons, Paul Bennetts (wife Nadine) of Lenexa, KS and Mark Bennetts (wife Laura) of Lansing, KS, as well as ten grandchildren and 17 great-grand children. He will be cremated and inurned with his wife, Mary, at the Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery. A memorial service of celebration of his life will be held at the Leavenworth Community of Christ, 10th and Halderman in Leavenworth, KS on Tuesday, July 1, 2014 at 2:00 PM. Memorial donations may be made to Outreach International, the Community of Christ Health Ministries Association or the Research College of Nursing. No flowers please. Condolences may be made at www.davisfuneralchapelinc.com.Published in Kansas City Star on June 29, 2014
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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