Obituary: William A. Bennett Jr., Veteran of Vietnam War

Obituary from McLaughlin - Dello Russo Funeral Home.

William A. Bennett Jr. of Rye Beach, NH formerly of Woburn passed away peacefully on September 29, 2014 at the Oceanside Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Facility in Hampton, NH. He was 65. Born in Winchester he was the son of Ann H. (Meehan) Bennett of Rye Beach, NH and Beaumont, TX formerly of Woburn and the late Captain William A. Bennett Sr.

Bill, as he was affectionately known to his family and friends, was a 1967 graduate of Woburn High School and was a member of the basketball team. Following high school Bill attended Bentley College for a year before enlisting in the United States Navy. Bill honorably served in the Navy from 1968 to 1972 and was a proud veteran of the Vietnam War. Following his return home from the service he completed his college studies and received his Bachelors Degree from the University of Houston. For the past ten years Bill worked tirelessly as an Authorizer for the Veterans Administration in Boston where he was a well respected and admired by many of his coworkers.

Bill was a sports enthusiast for most of his life. He continued playing recreational basketball for many years and also played softball in several different league teams while he was serving in the Navy and when he came home to Woburn. Bill also enjoyed golfing and spending time at the beach swimming in the ocean.

In addition to his late father, Bill is predeceased by his brother, Lawrence Bennett, grandparents Frank and Ann Meehan and Julia Bennett. He is survived by his siblings, Nancy Bennett and Kevin Bennett both of Beaumont, TX, and Barbara Bennett of Rye Beach, NH. Father of Elizabeth and William A. Bennett III, both of Louisiana. He is also survived by three grandchildren, several cousins, nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

Funeral services will be held from the McLaughlin - Dello Russo Funeral Home, 60 Pleasant St., WOBURN, Friday, at 10:30 a.m. followed by a funeral mass celebrated in St. Charles Borromeo Church, 280 Main St., Woburn, at 11:30 a.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours at the McLaughlin - Dello Russo Funeral Home will be held on Thursday from 4 thru 8 p.m. Services will conclude with military honors and burial at Calvary Cemetery, Woburn. Contributions may be made in Bill’s memory to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, 10 Brookline Place West, 6th Floor, Brookline, MA 02445-7226.