Reed W Bennett

Reed was born on September 1, 1929, in Ogden, Utah to Phillip John Bennett and Maude Walker Bennett.

He was raised in Syracuse, Utah and graduated from Davis High School in 1947. He then attended USU, and later completed a bachelor’s and an MBA at the University of Utah.

He served in the Northeastern States Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1949 to 1951. He then married Viola Lehman in the Salt Lake Temple on March 19, 1953. This union was blessed with six children. Reed continued to be active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he served in many callings through the years.

Reed served his country in the US Air Force. He was then employed in positions with Collins Radio in Iowa, Hercules in Salt Lake City, and the IRS in Ogden. In 1971, Reed moved his family to Fresno, California where he had accepted a position as chief of the examination division at the new IRS Fresno Service Center.

Reed and Viola divorced in 1980. He then retired from IRS, moved to San Diego, and married Dolores Steiner. While in San Diego, he was employed by San Diego County in the Public Works Department for many years. He and Dolores divorced in 1989. The family was blessed when he met and married Jean Murphy on February 14, 2002, then moved to Oceanside, California. Reed and Jean were sealed in the San Diego Temple on April 12, 2003. They enjoyed several cruises, and served together as senior missionaries in the California Carlsbad Mission Office, and as Temple Workers at the San Diego Temple.

He faced his recent health challenges with unwavering faith, courage, and hope while trusting in the Lord and willingly accepting His plan for him.

Reed is survived by his wife, Jean; children Bethany (Clarence) Newman; Kelly (Brenda) Bennett; Laurie Culbertson; Tamara (Bruce) Snow; Fredric (Tricia) Bennett; Perry (Debbie) Bennett; Paula (Randall) Malan; Bill (Laura) Arthur; Janine (Chris) Arthur-Kingston, and David Arthur. 43 grandchildren; 93 great-grandchildren; and 16 great-great-grandchildren. Numerous nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly. He was preceded to Heaven by his parents; siblings LaFay (Vic) Atkinson; Beverly (LaGrande) Belnap; Nadine Adams; and Sherman (Susan) Bennett.

Funeral services will be held on December 1, 2023, at 12:30 p.m. at the Rancho Guajome Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 451 W Bobier Drive, Vista, CA 92083. Friends may visit with family at Eternal Hills Mortuary, 1999 El Camino Real, Oceanside, CA 92054 on November 30, 2023, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and at the Church from 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. prior to the service. Interment will be in Eternal Hills Memorial Park in Oceanside, California.

Reed’s family would like to thank the staff and caregivers at Alta Vista Manor (especially Andre) and Hospice of the North Coast for their compassionate care of Reed these past few weeks.