Ralph Jefferson Bennett  8/5/32 – 9/14/24 (92)

Ralph was born on August 5th, 1932, the 16th of 17 children in the blended family of Lillie Mae & T.S. (“Fox Hunter”) Bennett, a sharecropper in Rondo, Arkansas. Ralph’s earliest memories were of riding on the cotton sack while his mother picked cotton. At 5 years old he was planting and picking cotton; at 11 he was doing a man’s job loading bundles of rice harvested in the rice fields and attending school when he wasn’t needed on the farm.

Ralph was an all-round athlete during Hollywood Junior High and Tech High school years in Memphis. He received numerous honors for his abilities in basketball, baseball, wrestling and was football MVP. He was the only one of his siblings to graduate high school.

After marrying Carolyn Reid, his high school sweetheart, in Batesville, Arkansas on Dec 27th, 1951, Ralph entered the USAF.  After completing basic training in San Antonio, he and Carolyn were stationed in Cheyenne, WY and then Smokey Hill AFB in Salina. During the Korean Conflict Ralph served 6 months as a communications specialist in Japan.

Always a dedicated and hard worker, Ralph had several jobs whilst stationed at Smokey Hill. He worked full-time at Busboom and Raugh Construction and for Claude Melvin at his car lot on North Santa Fe. In 1957 Ralph bought the business, starting a 60 plus year legacy of automobile sales and services in Salina. Ralph bought the Pontiac & Jeep franchises in 1969 and continued grow and manage Bennett Autoplex until the age of 89.

Ralph earned his private pilot’s license and achieved his IFR rating in the 60’s. He flew many long-distance flights including trips to Canada and Alaska to fish in remote locations.

Starting at a young age, Ralph was known for his honesty, his support for friends and family, and his dedication to his extended family. He had several close, life-long friends from school days in Memphis. His family learned, over time, of his extensive, yet quiet, generosity as evidenced by stories of gratitude told by family members, friends, and acquaintances.

Ralph is proceeded in death by his parents and all 16 siblings. He leaves behind his loving and grateful family including his loving wife of over 72 years, Carolyn Bennett; his children Carol Weger, Sharon Callabresi (Jerry), Cynthia Bennett, Jeff Bennett (Christina Humphrey); grandchildren Janusz Jaworski, Christopher Jaworski, Scott Jaworski, Sarah Charlton, Shannon Davidson (Craig), Chad Bennett, Amy Callabresi, Andrew Callabresi (Melissa), Ashley Amerson (Karl), Austin Weger (Dylan Darilek) and Great Grandchildren Cody and Delany Davidson; Nevaeh, Chad Jr, and Bella Bennett, Easton Brown, Sariah Hernandez, and Ryan Gutierrez; Tyler and Barret Amerson; Kendall and Brooklyn Renz; and Ryan Lofton in addition to two great-greatgrandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Ralph will also be greatly missed by the newest canine addition to the family, Stella.

Services will take place at Salina First Baptist Church on Monday, September 23, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers the family is recommending memorials to the Xcel Teen Town Program, P.O. Box 1332, Salina, KS 67402.