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Edgar Rowland Bennett
March 4, 2022
Edgar Rowland Bennett, 86, of Pine Grove, father, husband, teacher, and soldier, passed away peacefully with his family at his side on March 4, 2022, following a long struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease.
Born on December 28, 1935 and raised in West Pittston, PA, he was the son of the late Mary (Van Duzer) and Rowland Bennett - born Simeon Stacey, orphaned by age two and adopted by Fred and Jenny Bennett.
Graduating with a BS in Education from East Stroudsburg State College (1961) and MS in Mathematics from Ohio University (1973), Edgar served as a committed mathematics teacher at the Pine Grove Area High School for 35 years, supporting students, staff, sports and the community. As a math teacher, Mr. Bennett was considered a tough, but very fair and excellent teacher who was dedicated to the success of his students.
Edgar served 3.5 years of active military service in the 318th U.S. A.S.A. (1954-58), working as a Czech language specialist. When stationed in Tirschenreuth Germany, Edgar met the love of his life, his wife of nearly 65 years, Erika Margareta Mayer Bennett. Edgar rejoined the 453rd Finance section of the US Army reserves in 1974, retiring from the US Army in December, 1993. Edgar received more than a dozen awards during his military service and was activated stateside at age 55 during the first Gulf War, one of the longest deployed reservists in the country.
He was a member of the former St. Paul's Evangelical Congregational Church, Pine Grove.
Edgar loved and was loved by his family and friends and was respected by nearly everyone he encountered for his affable and loyal nature.
He is survived by his wife, Erika, his two children, Dr. Ellen Castagneto and Dr. Eric Bennett; his two granddaughters, Dr. Amber Ortega and Dr. Emily Ortega Goddard, and their spouses, C. Castagneto, E. Jensen, and Dr. J. Goddard. He was preceded in death by a sister Elma June Bennett Anderson.
Graveside services and interment with military honors will be held on Friday, March 11, 2022 at 9:30 A.M. in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville, Pa. There will be a procession to the cemetery leaving the H. L. Snyder Funeral Home, Inc., Pine Grove promptly at 8:45 A.M. Anyone following in the procession is asked to be at the Funeral Home by 8:30 A.M.
There will be a visitation on Friday, March 11, 2022 from 11:00 A.M. until Noon at St. John's Lutheran Church, 222 S. Tulpehocken St. Pine Grove, Pa. A Celebration of Life Service will follow at Noon at the Church with SALM John Ziegler officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer, contributions be made to the Alzheimer's Disease Association, 2595 Interstate Dr. Suite 100 Harrisburg, PA 17110 or https://act.alz.org/donate in Edgar Rowland Bennett's memory.
The H. L. Snyder Funeral Home, Inc., Pine Grove is in charge of arrangements and you may send condolences online at www.hlsnyderfuneralhome.com
****For those attending the visitation and Celebration of Life Service at St. John's Lutheran Church, parking will be available behind the church off Walters St. and also in the lot across the street from the church parking lot. To access the parking lot, turn on either W. Wood St. or High St. and turn on Walters St.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Edgar Rowland Bennett, please visit our floral store.
Alzheimer's Disease Association, Inc.
2595 Interstate Drive Suite 100, Harrisburg PA 17110
Web: http://www.alz.org