David Bruce Bennett, age 86, of Sweet Home died peaceably at home in the arms of his wife on Saturday, June 20. He was recovering from surgery for a brain cancer tumor.

David was born in Carlisle, Arkansas on May 2, 1923 to George and Ida (Caulkins) Bennett. At the age of two, he moved with his parents to Western Oklahoma where he grew up and received his education, graduating from Colony High school in 1942.

While attending Cameron Jr. College, he volunteered for Navy duty in early 1943. While serving in the South Pacific aboard the SubChaser 699 during the Battle at Biak, their ship was attacked by one of the first kamikaze planes by crashing on their deck. David stayed aboard ship and assisted in throwing over the live ammunition so that it would not explode on the ship’s deck. For this, he received the Bronze Star Medal and a Presidential Citation signed by President Truman.

After returning from South Pacific Navy duty, he married his grade school sweetheart, Wilda Fullerton, on June 19, 1945 in San Diego.

As an Electrician’s Mate, David worked on dismantling the ships until his discharge in 1946. He then worked for Marine Advisors with Jacques Cousteau to build and instrument for measuring the speed of underwater currents during the deep dive into the Marianas Straits. In later work with another firm, he worked with an engineer to design and build the locator to pinpoint the landing site of the first space astronauts.

After this, he owned a pizza restaurant for a few years, and then returned to work as a construction electrician and he, Wilda, and son, Jim, moved to Sweet Home in 1973.

David was a loving Christian family man, dearly loved and respected by his wife and daughters and those who knew him.

He was preceded in death by: son, Jim, in 1993; his parents; brothers, Homer, Charles, Cliff, and Paul; and sisters, Letha Paden and Nita Joyner.

David is survived by: his wife of 64 years, Wilda; daughers, Linda and her husband, Robert Hervig, of San Diego and Brenda and her husband, Roger Kuchenbecker, of Wasilla, Alaska; and many nieces and nephews.

A viewing will be from 4:00-7:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 24, at Sweet Home Funeral Chapel. Funeral service will be at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, June 25, also at Sweet Home Funeral Chapel. Burial will be in Lewis Cemetery by the side of son Jim.

Memorial contributions may be made to Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church where David was a member.

Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling services.