Roll Call Tribute

William Dempsey “Bill” Bennett
October 15, 1931 - June 21, 2021

William Dempsey “Bill” Bennett, 89, passed away June 21, 2021. He was born October 15, 1931 in Galveston, TX to Earle Neal and Anna Macy Minter Bennett. Educated in the Alvin Texas school system, he enrolled in Texas A&M at the age of sixteen. He was a member of the Corp of Cadets and the Texas Aggie Band, and directed freshman band practice his last two years of college. He was a Phi Eta Sigma honoree, graduating with a degree in Electrical Engineering.

Bill joined the Army Signal Corp as a commissioned officer, and married his sweetheart Arlene Mary Kemp of Bay City on October 30, 1954. Following their wedding, they traveled to Ft. Huachuca, Arizona, where he fulfilled his two year service commitment. Their first child, Stephen William Bennett, was born in Tucson September 7, 1955.

The couple chose to make their home in Bay City, where they raised four children, Stephen William, Rita Marie, Mary Lorena, and Thomas Martin Bennett, who died in 1985 at 22 years of age. Bill was employed by Phillips Petroleum Company, Old Ocean, Texas and retired in 1986 after 33 years with the company.

Bill was an active member of Holy Cross Church and he and his friend, the late Cledus Hollas, were on Father Charles Sonnier’s volunteer call list. He was a 3rd Degree Knight of the Knights of Columbus Council 3070 as well as a Grand Knight. He coached Little League baseball, the CYO Youth softball, played Men’s Slo Pitch softball, and served as Cub Scout Pack Leader. He sang in the Holy Cross Church choir for many years. He and his wife were members of KJT. One of the grat joys of his life after retirement was his membership in the Bay City Coastalaires Barbershop Chorus. He sang with the chorus for over 30 years.

Bill’s many skills went beyond engineering large projects for this company to include all aspects of carpentry, licensed electrical work, and auto repair. He was on-call for family, friends and neighbors, his tools and skills always available when needed. The couple decided to join Habitat for Humanity building projects, and he brought many of his own tools to work in Amarillo, Brazoria, and Texarkana, as well as Carlsbad, NM, Wyoming and Idaho. The group was the RV Gypsies.

Bill is preceded in death by his parents: son Tommy Bennet; brother Charles Bennett and sister Anna Mary Hingle. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Arlene Kemp Bennett; son Steve Bennett and wife Pat; daughter Rita and husband Ken Demehl, and daughter Mary and husband Gary Bucek; 6 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will begin at 9:00 AM Monday, June 28, 2021 at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Bay City. A rosary will be recited at 9:30 AM followed by Funeral Mass at 10:00 AM with Fr. Stephen Vacek officiating. Interment will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park in Van Vleck. Pallbearers are Chris Bennett, Jacob Bennett, Andrew Skellie, Covy Wilkenson, Benjamin Bucek and Ken Demehl.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made in Bill's memory to Holy Cross Catholic Church, 2001 Katy Ave. Bay City, TX 77414, or Habitat for Humanity of Southern Brazoria County 12 Circle Way, Lake Jackson, TX 77566.