Obituary of Percival Robert Bennett

Percival Robert Bennett, Jr., "Perby", passed away at Mountain View Nursing Center in Bryson City, NC on December 27, 2011. Born February 15, 1915 in Baltimore, MD while his father was in medical school at the University of Maryland, he lived in and loved Bryson City and Swain County his whole life. He was preceded in death by parents, Dr. and Mrs. P. R. Bennett, Sr., brother John MacDonald Bennett, and wife, Evelyn "Tweedy" Bennett. He is survived by a son, P. R. Bennett, III (wife Dianne) of Lenoir, NC, and a daughter, Olivia Bennett Wood (husband Jackson) of West Lafayette, IN. He is also survived by 2 grandchildren, P.R. Bennett, IV, Lake Toxaway, NC, and Kelly Edmond Bennett, II, Valdese, NC and five great grandchildren: Ashley, Christopher, Gavin, Karrigan, and Kyndall. He was a graduate of N C State Fire College-Drill School, and Hemphill Diesel Engineering School in Memphis, TN. He also attended UNC at Chapel Hill. He served in the U.S. Army Air Force-Airborne Engineers in World War II. He owned and operated Bennetts Motor Court in Bryson City for 36 years. Mr. Bennett was an active volunteer and leader in Western North Carolina, Swain County, and Bryson City. He served 9 terms as Mayor of Bryson City, was a former Town Clerk and member of Bryson City and Swain County Planning Board. He was a member of the Bryson City Fire Department for 51 years and served as Fire Chief for the majority of those years. The Swain County Fire Department building is named in his honor. He was President of the Western N C Fireman's Association, member of the Swain County School Board, and a member and Elder in the Bryson City Presbyterian Church, Treasurer of the Southwestern Planning and Economic Development Commission, and an Instructor in the N C Community College System. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at the Bryson City Presbyterian Church on January 7, 2012 at 11 AM. The family will receive guests at the church one hour prior to the service. The burial will be private. The family requests in lieu of flowers that memorials be made to the Swain County Fire Department or the Bryson City Presbyterian Church.