Major Bennett, 87, of Dunbar-Institute, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, February 3, 2009 at the Hubbard Hospice House.

He was born September 6, 1921 at War, Kanawha County, WV.

The family, while he was a child, moved to Peach Creek, WV, where he was raised. He was a resident of Logan, WV for nearly 20 years, during which time he worked as a coal miner.

After the coal mines closed in Logan, Major moved to New Haven, Conn., where he worked for U. S. Repeating Arms and retired in 1986 from Olin Corporation in New Haven.

Major was a veteran of World War II, where he fought in the Battle of Luzon (Philippines) and received a medal for his bravery. The battle resulted in a U.S. and Filipino victory. Major received numerous medals from the U. S. Army for his service. He holds a lifetime membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and a lifetime membership in the American Legion and was a member of the NAACP.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Florence Rose and Thomas Bennett, brothers, Matthew Bennett, Roy Bennett, William Bennett and by a sister, Queen Thomas.

He is survived by his sister, Mary Hickman of Peach Creek, WV; two nieces, Eloise Rakes of Logan, WV and Carolyn Smoot and her husband, Douglas of Institute, WV; a nephew, Kenneth Hickman of Peach Creek, WV; two great nephews, Herbert Wagner and his wife, Louise of Middletown, Ohio and Willie Wagner of Columbus, Ohio; two great nieces, Harriet Clemons of Dunbar and Caroline Smoot of Washington, D.C. and a host of great great nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 12 noon Monday, February 9, at Keller Funeral Home, Dunbar, with the Rev. Orin Thornhill and the Rev. Robert Davis officiating. Burial with military rites will be at 2:30 p.m., Monday at the Highland Memorial Gardens, Pecks Mill, WV.

Friends may call one hour prior to the service at Keller Funeral Home, Dunbar.

The family wishes to recognize and thank Dr. Karen Miller, Major's primary care physician, who helped make the last few years of his life fuller and gave comfort to Douglas and Carolyn Smoot. Sincere appreciation is also extended to all other attending physicians, family and friends, the staff of Thomas Memorial Hospital, the staff of Hubbard Hospice House, Carl E. Hickman, caregiver, and the staff and students at Stonewall Jackson Middle School.