Ronald Franklin Bennett

Ronald Franklin Bennett, 86, of Moncks Corner, passed away peacefully November 18, 2024.

Mr. Bennett was born in Charleston, SC, in 1938. A child of the Great Depression and WW2, he came of age in a time of scarcity and uncertainty. His family sought opportunity in St. Stephen, SC, opening a bus stop, dime store, and restaurant, where he worked as a young man and attended St. Stephen High School. He dreamed of the skies, and took flying lessons as a teenager. After a stint in the U.S. Air Force, he attended the University of South Carolina for a short time. But flying was his passion, leading him to work as a pilot for Sun Airlines and to own and operate Kinston Sprayers, a crop dusting business in North Carolina. He also was a member of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Local Lodge 687. As a boilermaker, he helped construct ships and a nuclear power plant.

In his later years, Mr. Bennett and his wife bred fox terriers, including GCH Afterall Painting the Sky, who won Best in Show at 127 dog shows, including Westminster Kennel Club in 2014.

He also enjoyed vegetable gardening, building computers and had a great love for the history of South Carolina.

Mr. Bennett was a member of the Mount Hope Masonic Lodge #128, as was his brother, Howard, and their father before them.

He leaves behind his beloved wife Peggy Bennett; children, Lisa DeAngelis (John), Rene’ Bedenbaugh (Jonathan), Mike McQuaid, Michelle Colombatti, and Victoria Beyer (Brian). He is also survived by his grandchildren: Lydia Yasso, John DeAngelis, Joshua and Matthew Bedenbaugh, Sierra Hernandez, Michael McQuaid, Mckenzie Bowen, and Wyle Beyer and three great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Edith Bennett, of St. Stephen, his brothers Donald and Howard Bennett, and his grandson, Billy Welsh.

The family will receive visitors at 10:00 am on Saturday, November 23 at First Presbyterian Church in Moncks Corner. Services will begin at 11:00 am.

Donations may be made to the Berkeley County-South Carolina Historical Society or First Presbyterian Church of Moncks Corner.