09/09/2025
On the 7th of September, 2025, Omer Edward Bennett III, passed away surrounded by his family after a courageous battle with lung cancer.
Known as Ed by most people, he was called many things over his lifetime - Dad by his girls, Eddie by his family, Big Grandpa by his favorite people, soldier by the United States Army, Beagle by his coworkers, “that Hippy” by his wife’s aunts, Coach by the teams he led, a sandbagger by his poker buddies…
On August 17, 1954, Ed was the first son born to Omer E. Bennett, Jr. and Barbra Estelle Leroy Bennett. Following his graduation from Dunbar High School, class of 1972, he enlisted in the United States Army, serving at Fort Benning and later in Germany, and was honorably discharged as a Specialist 4. During his service, he earned a National Defense Service Medal as a Marksman. He was the quintessential jack-of-all-trades and wore many hats over the years - from general contractor and heavy equipment operator to chef, butcher, and beyond.
Ed met the love of his life, Sarita, at a party during the summer of 1972, where he asked her to marry him that very same night. She thought he was crazy, but this past December, they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
Over the years, you could always find Ed at the ball field. He never missed a ball game when his daughters, grandsons or his great-granddaughter were playing. Ed was a softball coach in North Putnam Little League for many years and would do anything for his teams, even making a bet with the Hometown-Bancroft 1991 senior league team that if they made it through the entire tournament without losing, he would cut off his rat-tail (oh how fun the hair styles were back in the 1900s). In true Ed fashion, he wore his rat-tail braided to the championship game, and after the final out, he walked onto the field, whipped out his pocket knife, and cut that braid off right there on the pitcher’s mound. The braid is still wrapped around the team’s trophy to this day.
Ed enjoyed a wide variety of hobbies. In his younger years, he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed all the traditional West Virginia activities including white water rafting, skiing, hunting, fishing, and kayaking. After his time in the Army, he was a member of the Mountaineer Flintlock Rifle Gun Club, and together with his Dad, they built several custom long rifles. He also had a long standing Friday night poker game with his buddies, David, Rick, Dean, Bill, and Tim, also known as the West Side Liars, Poker, and Fishing Club.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Joe Bob and Shirley Parsons, and his son-in-law, Matthew Daniel.
He is survived by his loving wife of over 50 years, Sarita Jo, his daughters - Beth (Bryan) Hoylman and Sarah Leigh (Steve) Runyon, his grandchildren - Willam “Billy” (Brooke) Grass, Layne (Mackenzie) Daniel, and Cassie Grass, his great grandchildren - Claire Leon and Hudsyn “Huddy” & Ramsie Daniel, his siblings - Terry (Lynn) Bennett and Renee Bennett, his brothers-in-law - Bob (Robin) Parsons and Ronnie (Tammie) Smith, his sister-in-law - Heather (Bill) Leggett, his lifelong best friend - Don Anderson, his dog - Val, and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
The family would like to thank Dr. Jonathan Lilly for being the best doctor and the wonderful staff at Hubbard Hospice House for the outstanding care provided to Ed during his final days.
In lieu of flowers, the family would like for donations to be made to either HospiceCare (1606 Kanawha Boulevard West, Charleston, WV 25387) or to the Children’s Church Camp fund at Davis Creek Nazarene Church at the following link: https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=0d2d5ca1-6865-11ee-90fc-1260ab546d11&locationId=c0838d6d-859f-4cbd-bfa4-51294aaa9004&fundId=b29f773f-7376-47d5-aa05-7ef023499910
Graveside services, with Pastor Rick Gardner officiating, and interment will be held on September 19, 2025, at 1:00pm at Donel C. Kinnard Memorial State Veterans Cemetery in Dunbar.
