Irvin "Sonner" Bennett

Irvin “Sonner” Lee Bennett Jr., 78, of Barton passed away on May 22, 2023 at home with his wife and family at his side. Born in Franklin on October 2, 1944, he was the son of the late Irvin and Hazel (Gaither) Bennett Sr. He was the son-in-law of the late Wilmer and Frances (Gilpin) Sweitzer.

He was preceded in death by his daughter-in-law Diana Bennett in 2010, brothers Billy Bennett and Ronald Bennett, a sister Shirley Baker, a brother-in-law Ralph “Gene” Liller, a sister-in-law Eleanor Bennett and two nephews Randy Courtney and Steve Courtney and special friend Margie Murphy.

A graduate of Bruce High School, at the age of 18 he began working for Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company. After almost 14 years of service with PPG he started to work for Westvaco. He retired from Westvaco with 27 years of service. He is known for working many double shifts; he once worked 35 double shifts in a row. He told his family “he saw himself coming and going to work.” He loved to go hunting, fishing, golfing, pitching horseshoes, pitching and playing baseball and playing cards and he was a long-time bingo player. But, first and foremost he loved his family and friends and spending time with them.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years, Sandra Laree (Sweitzer) Bennett, they were wed on October 8, 1965 in Swanton.

He is also survived by his children, daughter Kimberly “Dib” Bennett of Barton, Son, Gary Harrison Bennett (Amy) of Ellerslie; three granddaughters, Sydney Bennett (Bobby) of Lexington Park, Olivia Bennett of Frostburg and Sadie Bennett of Barton; four step-grandsons, Aaron, Cayleb, Keygan, and Landon Broadwater; sister, Emma Courtney (Doug) of Keyser, WV; sister-in-law, Donna (Sweitzer) Liller of Oakland; brother-in-law, John “Jack” Baker of Midland and sister-in-law, Lois Bennett of Lonaconing.

Family and friends will be received on Thursday, May 25, 2023 from 4-8 PM at Wilhelm-Eakin Funeral Home, P.A., Midland. A funeral service will be held at the funeral home on Friday, May 26, 2023 at 11:00 AM with Pastor Barbara Rexroad officiating. Interment will be held at Frostburg Memorial Park, Frostburg.

Pallbearers will be nephews, Rich Bennett, Ray Wolf Jr., Bob Liller, Jim Liller, John Baker and special friend and neighbor Ivan Crowe and an Honorary Pallbearer, Roger “Hank” Halbritter, his old friend and buddy.

The family would like to thank UPMC Hospice Staff for the excellent care provided to Sonner during his time spent at home. Also, a special thank you to his wonderful neighbors on Piedmont Street.