William "Pat" P. Bennett

Command Sergeant Major Retired William P. "Pat" Bennett, a resident of Midland City, died Sunday, March 1, 2015 at his home following a long illness. He was 77 years old.

Memorial services will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, March 6, 2015 at Sunset Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Johnny Fain and Rev. Bob Gross officiating. Military Honors will follow in Sunset Memorial Park with Robert Byrd directing. The family will receive friends from 10-11:00 a.m. prior to the service at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Dothan First Baptist Church Television or Community Ministries, 300 W. Main Street, Dothan, AL, 36303.

CSM Bennett was born January 11, 1938 in Waco, TX and graduated from Waco High School in 1956. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1958 and retired in January 1982 after almost 24 years of active duty. He served in the Republic of Vietnam from January 1966 until May 1970 and was twice awarded the Bronze Star Medal. He earned his Bachelor's Degree and Masters Degree in Counseling and Psychology from Troy University after his retirement from the Army. He worked as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor at Life Management Center of NW Florida in Panama City and Marianna from 1986 until 2003 and retired as the Director of Adult Outpatient Services for three rural Florida Counties in January 2003.

CSM Bennett is survived by his wife, Sheila Mitchell Bennett; three children, Patric Bennett of Fayetteville, TN, Jennifer Tim Brunner of Birmingham, AL, and Jason Bennett of Tallahassee, FL; daughter-in-law, Rose Bennett; family friend, Gianna Zellner; five grandchildren, Josh Brunner, Abby Brunner, Anna Brunner, Liam Bennett, and Kiirah Smith; a brother, Randy Craig Bennett of Santa Fe, NM; nieces and nephews, Leslie Tom Davis, Stephanie Seth Cox, Michael Kim Bumgardner, Jr., and Alexander Bennett Strong. He was preceded in death by his parents, Tony and Vivian Bennett, and by his first wife Marlene Diane Herwald Bennett.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff of Covenant Hospice and Debbie Davidson for their loving care.