BENNETT John W. Bennett, 89, of Columbus, passed away Saturday, April 30, 2011, at Kobacker House. John was born March 24, 1922, in Barnesville, OH to the late, William V. and Leila Beryl (Carpenter) Bennett. His wife, Mary Elizabeth "Betty" (Bailey) Bennett also preceded him in death in 2009 after nearly 67 years of marriage. John was a retired real estate broker and World War II U.S. Army Air Corp Veteran. After completing his secondary education in Barnesville where he was an avid athlete, he attended Northwestern University and then was employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad. During World War II he served his country as a highly decorated B-24 pilot in the 15th Army Air Corp, 460th Bomb Group stationed in Spinazzola, Italy. During one disastrous mission to bomb oil refineries over Austria, his plane was nearly disabled and being targeted by German fighters when a unit of the 617th Squadron of the Tuskegee Airmen intervened and escorted his plane across the Alps to safety. He was forever grateful for their heroic defense of him and his crew and many others during the war. After the war he attended The Ohio State University where he graduated with a BS in Business Administration and he was employed by E.I. Dupont de Nemours & Co. in Wilmington, Delaware. Upon returning to Ohio he became a Realtor Broker with Jim Owen & Co. as General Manager. He remained a successful member of the real estate community winning top awards and Salesman of the Year in the Columbus Board of Realtors. He was an active participant in many local, city and state real estate activities. John, known as Bill by many family and friends, also gave of his talents and energies to his family, church, community and country. He was a member and Trustee of North United Methodist Church, Trustee and Founder of the Whetstone High School Boosters Assn., University Boy's Assn., Charity Newsies and was active in Beta Alpha Psi and Beta Gamma Sigma National Honorary Fraternities. At the time of his death he was a resident of Wesley Glen Retirement Community in north Columbus where he had many friends. We are grateful to the Wesley Glen community and staff for their extraordinary care and loving support of John during these last years. John kept them and all of us laughing and always had a joke or a story to brighten the day. In addition to his wife, John was preceded in death by an infant son David Vincent, his brother Charles and wife Grethel, brother-in-law Donald H. Bonham and brothers and sisters-in-law by marriage. His surviving children are Tyra Ann Bennett LaPens (Thomas), Jon William Bennett (Marialice), Bradley Bailey Bennett (Linda), and Mary Beth Bennett Morgan (Douglas), all of Columbus, Mark Allen Bennett (Kimberly) of Cincinnati, Candace Lee Bennett (Donald Quest) of Caldwell, Ohio, Nancy May and David Lovell; grand-children, Thomas (Susan) LaPens, Christina LaPens (Joel Diaz), Jay Bennett (Michele Balkwill), Vince Bennett (Rebecca Snedeker), Bryan (Jessica) Bennett, Kathryn Quest, Don (Kendra) Quest, Jr., Christian (Heather) Quest, David (Lanne) Bennett, Adam (Andria) Bennett, Alexey Bennett, Seth (Jordan Northcut) Bennett, Brandon (Komang) Morgan, Kate Morgan, Corey Morgan, Cora Bennett, Clayton Bennett and Colin Bennett; great-grandchildren, Vivienne and Alexander Diaz LaPens, Brad, Amber, Ashley and Bryce Walters, Josephine and Hudson Bennett, Lulu Rose Bennett, Dominic and Vincent Bennett, Julian Baldridge, Mikaela, Delaney and Ashlynn Quest and Austin Quest. Also survived by four great-great-grand-children, Kenzington and Kharmen Freeman and Kaizen Decker and Blake Walters; sister, Ruth Bennett Bonham; and sisters-in-law, Virginia Hunkler, Winnie Bailey and Suzanne Bailey; and brothers-in-law, George (Pete) Bailey, Ernest (Rube) Bailey and Wayne (Mick) Walker; cousins, nieces, nephews and other beloved family members. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 12Noon Saturday, May 7, 2011 at Maple Grove United Methodist Church, 7 Henderson Rd., Columbus, OH 43214 with Rev. Joel Baer Officiating. A graveside service will follow at Mount Vernon Memorial Gardens, Mt. Vernon, OH. Family and friends may call at RUTHERFORD-CORBIN FUNERAL HOME, 515 High St., Worthington, OH 43085 from 5-8 p.m. Friday, May 6 and one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church.