Samuel Walker Bennett

Born the son of William F. Bennett and Eunice D. Wilson on February 24, 1916 in Mecklenburg County, Sam spent his early years growing up and working on dairy farms in what is now the South Park area. He later worked delivering coal and ice in his late teens and early twenties. In 1938, he married Wincie Mae Nantz, his beloved wife of sixty-four years. In December that same year, she gave birth to their only child, Jerry. In 1945, after some years as a truck driver, Sam began what would be his career as a firefighter that would only be interrupted by the draft of World War II in the Navy, serving in the Asiatic Pacific. After being honorably discharged in 1946, he resumed his service of thirty-one years as a Charlotte Firefighter, retiring as Captain.

Sam is survived by two grandsons, Stephen Bennett of Charlotte, NC, and Todd Bennett and his wife, Heather Bennett, of Indian Trail, NC, and their two sons, Samuel Bennett and Luke Bennett.

After much consideration, a wise man said, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.”

Sam aspired to love God with all his heart and to love his neighbor as himself.

His greatest claim was that God loved him with all His heart by sacrificing His only Son to be his Savior.

The family will receive friends from 7:00 until 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, January 14, at McEwen Funeral Service, Mint Hill Chapel, 7428 Matthews-Mint Hill Road in Mint Hill. A funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 15, at Gloryland Baptist Church, with the Rev. Sammy Case officiating. Interment will follow in Sunset Memory Gardens.

Memorials may be made to the Salvation Army, P.O. Box 31128, Charlotte, NC 28231, or Gloryland Baptist Church, 3001 Gloryland Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28213.

Condolences may be offered at www.mcewenminthillchapel.com.