Kingsley V. Bennett, age 89 of Ewing, Illinois passed away at 9:40 P.M. Friday, November 14, 2025 at the Nature Trail Nursing Home in Mt. Vernon, Illinois.
Kingsley was born November 12, 1936 in Benton, Illinois. He attended the Benton High School and graduated high school from the Van-Nuys High School in Hollywood, California. Kingsley enlisted in the United States Navy and served from 1955 to 1959. He then went on to the Vocational-Technical Institute (VTI) to earn a degree in accounting. Kingsley and Cathy Whittier were united in marriage on May 25, 1961. Kingsley had retired from the Internal Revenue Service of the United States Treasury on January 1, 1993. Kingsley loved his children and grandchildren. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He enjoyed gardening and watching the NBA, he loved working with his cattle and just being in the outdoors.
He is survived by his loving wife, Cathy Bennett; two sons, Jeff (Lori) Bennett and Mitch (Taylor) Bennett of Ewing; two brothers, Jim Bennett of Benton and Rodney Bennett of Newburgh, Indiana; two sisters, Marlene Webb of Ewing, and Lynda Sanchez of Benton; seven grandchildren, Brandon, Lauren, Brock, Jordan, Alex, Kaitlyn and Josh Bennett; great-grandchildren, Isabella and Keagen Bennett.
Kingsley was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest James and Helen Vaughn Bennett; his son, Bradley Whittier Bennett (2002).
Funeral services honoring the life of Kingsley V. Bennett will be held at 12 P.M. Wednesday, November 19, 2025 at the Whittington Church in Whittington, Illinois. Rev. Mark Minor will be officiating. The family will receive friends Wednesday morning from 10 A.M. until the service hour. Internment will follow at the Liberty-Ridlin Cemetery in Macedonia, Illinois. Full Military Honors will be accorded by the American Legion Post #280 in Benton.
Pallbearers will be Jeff Bennett, Mitch Bennett, Alex Bennett, Rodney Bennett, Doug Browning, Brock Bennett and Brandon Bennett.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Whittington Church, 200 West Main St, Whittington, Illinois 62897.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Wilson Funeral Home in Karnak.
The family and staff of Wilson Funeral Home would like to offer our sincere condolences to the Kingsley Bennett family. (Our dear friends)
I was fortunate to work with Mr Bennett for 8+ years. I learned how to help co-workers achieve more than they had dreamed. I am thankful for his example and tutelage.
Kingsley (we called him King) was my childhood buddy. We met when we were about 16 years old. He lived on Ethel Ave. and I lived on Coldwater Canyon in North Hollywood, California. Those were the Golden years of California (just after the 2nd world war). We all had cars and we roamed the San Fernando Valley and Malibu Beachs. King had a Red Buick that was all decked out with white wall tires and twin pipes. King and I belonged to a small group of friends that hung out together. We both graduated together from Van Nuys High School in 1954(the largest graduating class West of the Mississippi River(1200+) that included Robert Redford and Don Drysdale).- King joined the Navy and left the area and I went North to Utah. We kept in touch over the years and I visited his home in Ewing.
I loved him dearly and will miss my Eternal friend but God willling we will meet again.-Ken Molen