The Portsmouth Times, 5 April 1963

 

T. F. Bennett, Grade School Principal, Dies

 

Thomas Forrest Bennett, 52, of Minford Rt. 1, principal of Sunshine School on Route 335, died Thursday in Mercy Hospital.

 

He had been ill since Feb. 2 and a patient at the hospital since March 26.

 

Bennett was born in Scioto County Feb. 4, 1911, a son of Everett R. and Ada Shonkwiler Bennett.  He was married to the former Roseanna Coles in August 1937.

 

A graduate of Minford High School in 1930, he attended Ohio University where he was awarded his bachelor of science degree.  He received a master of arts degree from Marshall University.

 

Bennett had taught in the Minford School District since 1938 and for seven years prior to that in other schools in the Scioto County school system.

 

He was a member of Fairview Baptist Church, the Lucasville Masonic Lodge, Madison Grange, the Ohio Education Association and the Ohio Principals Association.

 

Surviving are his wife, Roseanna; a son, Joe Thomas Bennett, a junior at Morehead State College; his mother, Ada of Lucasville Rt. 4; three brothers Bernard Bennett of Lucasville Rt. 4, Donald Bennett of Athens and Everett Bennett of Portsmouth Rt. 6; and four sisters, Mrs. Louise Sheets of Mansfield, Mrs. Lucille McDaniel of Chula, Georgia, Mrs. Ruth Swords of Minford Rt. 1 and Mrs. Helen Allen of Lucasville Rt. 4.

 

He was preceded in death by his father.

 

Funeral services are to be conducted at Fairview Baptist Church at 2 p.m. Saturday.  Rev. Forrest (ureadible) is to officiate.  Interment is to be in Bennett Cemetery.

 

Friends may call at Erwin-Dodson Funeral Home after 2 p.m. today and at the church an hour before services.

 

Masonic services are to be conducted at 7:30 tonight at the funeral home.