3/6/1924 - 11/12/2018
Catherine Bennett age 94 of Portland went home to walk with
the Lord Monday. She had been under the care of IU Ball Memorial Hospital in
Muncie. A preemie at birth she was born in Jay County March 6, 1924 the
daughter of Soloman Wesley and Cora May (Bruner) Heniscey. She was married
June 4, 1950 to Ralph Bennett and he died May 30, 2001. She had worked for
the Citizens Bank for 37 years and was recruited out of high school to
become secretary to the Commanding General at Wright Patterson Air Force
base. She was a member of New Life Ministries and Deborah's Circle. Between
the ages of 70 and 90 she pieced and knotted over 5000 baby quilts and
additional quilts for at risk babies and children. This was her retirement
ministry and they were delivered all over the world. She was 2002 Citizen of
the Year by Cincinnatus League, received Certificate of Appreciation from
Pregnancy Care in 2013 for making 1200 baby quilts for their organization,
2013 recipient of Jack Cole Award for volunteerism, recipient of
Distinguished Hoosier Award from Gov. Mike Pence in 2014. She began sewing
for her family at age twelve and continued throughout her life.
Surviving are two daughters Alice Whitacre of Portland and Becci Green
(husband Gail) of Portland Five grandchildren and Eight great grandchildren
and Twelve great great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a
daughter Carol Showalter, grandson Joseph Whitacre and three sisters Betty
Heniscey, Laura Allman and Nora Tomlinson.
A celebration
of life service will be held Saturday at 1:00 PM in the Baird-Freeman
Funeral Home with Dr. Kay Fairchild presiding. Burial will follow in the
Antioch Cemetery. Visitation will be Saturday from 10:00 – 1:00 PM.
Memorials can be made to the Life Ministries Church or Pregnancy Care Center
Baird-Freeman Funeral Home; 11/14/18
Contributed by Jim
Cox
Buried in Antioch Cemetery