November 17, 2012

Welcome from Son - Chris
Good morning,
I'm Dale's oldest son Chris, as Dad would say, Rugrat #1.  On behalf of the family and close friends, we would like to thank you for joining us today in celebrating the life of our beloved, Dale Bennett. We appreciate you traveling from many distances and coming out in this weather.  If my dad were here this morning he would for sure have the camera in hand and ready to capture the moment.  He loved to capture how the green shades would pop in this weather, and the moment a drip of water was falling from a leaf or when the water would bead on a rose or probably a picture of you when you weren't ready, but he would smile and giggle.  He loved the small stuff, the details most people don't notice.

If he were here I would have heard "slow down!" multiple time this morning, in his attempt to keep me safe driving over here.  Unfortunately he is not with us today, but fortunately he is home with his Lord and Savior in heaven.

Psalms 16:11 says:
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasure forevermore.

Wow doesn't that sound wonderful for Dad in heaven.  When God created the heavens the smallest details were thought through and created perfectly.  The beauty is something we have never witnesses.  I can only imagine how much fun he is having with his camera now.  Yet that is all I can imagine because it seems so right for Dad to be in such beauty.  The vision of Dad with a big smile, truly happy, with no pain wandering the heavens snapping thousands of photos.  I wonder how many external hard drives he's filled up so far.  Boy, I'm sure we are in for a long, beautiful slide show the next time we see him.

John 14:1-3 says:
Let not your hearts be troubled.  Believe in God, believe also in me.  In my Father's house are many rooms.  If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am, you may be also.
 
Again, thank you so very much for being a part of my Dad's life and coming today.  To the life long friends from childhood like Dave Davis to the wonderful friends he met later in life, we greatly appreciate you and please know the hellos, the handshakes the hugs and conversations come with great honor and love for you all.


Euology from Daughter  - Kim
Thank you for coming to be with us to honor and remember my father, Dale Bennett, and to support us in this difficult moment of time. We have each received a tremendous outpouring of love and support, and it is a healing gift for which we are so very grateful.   Looking around this room, it’s obvious that Dad touched many lives.  He held a special place in many hearts, and left this world much better for having been in it.

As I thought about writing this eulogy I didn't know where to begin or what to say.  There were so many thoughts that went through my mind, so many wonderful memories.  I thought should I start from the end or start from the beginning, I just wasn’t sure so I just started.

I am Kim, my dad’s oldest child and only daughter, or as my father called me most times Kimberly unless he wasn’t very pleased with me and then it became “Krim.”  I guess he just wasn’t sure who did it, me or Chris, but boy someone was going to get it. 

My father was a dear son, dedicated husband, and wonderful father.  He sacrificed his health and eventually his life for our country.  My father was a simple man, as long as he had a vehicle to take him places, his camera loaded and ready, and his family, that was all he needed.  And off we went to many places close and far, the Sand Dunes in Pismo Beach were one of my favorites.  Thank you Mema for all of the honey buns….and sorry dad I never did slow down, finger to the throttle!

A special message to my dad; Daddy I love you and have so many fond memories, remember buying my first track spikes, man they made me go fast; you walked me down the aisle not just once but twice, you were such a handsome man  and I loved seeing you all dressed up; And Dad you were so frugal with food, the things I would have to eat for the next meal because I wasn’t very cooperative – oatmeal for dinner, salad for breakfast, ugh…but my favorite meal any time of day were your mickey mouse pancakes.  They were the best!  I still have the quarter in between my handle bars and brake just in case I need to make a phone call so you can pick me up, by the way can you send me your number in heaven? and I wear a helmet now always I promise, no more throwing it in the bushes.  About those “talking in my sleep” moments when you would turn my stereo off after I had gone to sleep.  Hopefully I didn’t divulge too much about my teenage shenanigans….you kept it to yourself if I did.  And about those juicy kisses you used to plant on my cheek, as I would wiggle away, I would give anything for just one more.

My dad wasn’t one to sit down and tell you he was going to teach you something, nope instead he just got in there, started to do something and asked his kids to help. We remodeled bathrooms, built patio covers, put bikes together, you name it we did it.  But my dad taught me more than how to take something apart, fix it, and put it back together; he showed me how to go with the flow, to not sweat the small things.  I learned from him to be spontaneous and to help others without regard to personal inconvenience because that just didn’t matter. He made people smile no matter where he went and he talked to everyone no matter where he was; he helped others regardless of their social status, it didn’t matter if you needed help he helped you.

I believe God has a reason for everything, including what my father suffered.  I’ll be honest I am not quite sure what it is at this point, and knowing how God works I may never know.  I do know my dad gave his life for our country, and at the minimum I will make this known with the hope of changing how our Agent Orange Veterans are treated.

In the last few weeks of my dad’s life I was amazed by his patience and comfort to ask for help.  His strength and courage right up to the end was greater than anything I have every witnessed.  He fought harder than anyone thought possible.  Dad made all of the nurses laugh, he always had silly jokes to tell – sometimes I think he only knew what he meant – but needless to say everyone laughed – he kept the room jolly.

One last message to my dad – you gave me something no one other than a father as special as you could give, you gave me two wonderful brothers I love dearly.  There is a part of you in me, you will be with me always and forever.  I love you dad! Enjoy the next part of your journey.   May God continue to bless you and all of our family.