Owen’s Obituary Owen G. Bennett 96, retired music teacher from Las Cruces, NM passed away Saturday January 19, 2019 in Florida while he was visiting family. Owen was born on December 29, 1922 in Defiance, Ohio to Sylvanus and Alice (Little) Bennett. He spent some of his childhood in Silver City and Hatch NM.
He graduated from Hatch High School and began college at New Mexico State University. His education was interrupted when he was called to serve his country during World War II. He served in the 87th Infantry of the United States Army as a Private First Class.
Once his service was complete he went to University of New Mexico where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and a Master’s Degree in Musicology. When he finished he started his career as a music teacher in Castle Rock, Colorado. After a short time he returned to New Mexico and taught briefly in Roy, Artesia, and Capitan.
He moved his family to Mountainair, NM where he taught choir and band in the schools and directed the choir at First Baptist Church. After leaving Mountainair he spent the rest of his career teaching music in Shiprock, Crownpoint and Zuni. During this time he developed a great appreciation for the Native American peoples and their culture.
He often told stories of their unique sense of humor. After his retirement in 1980 he and his wife moved to Las Cruces. He stayed involved with music through the years singing with the men’s choral group Vos Vaqueros.
He found joy in attending concerts performed by the New Horizons Symphony and the Mesilla Valley Concert Band. During his retirement he found a new passion. He worked with the local Computer club and during the summer helped teach computer classes to local youth.
He was also the neighborhood computer guru helping his neighbors with computer issues. Over the years he shared his love of music with countless students who came to enjoy and love him. He made friends everywhere he went.
He will be remembered for his love of people, music and puns. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. He is survived by his sister Marguerite (Peggy) Charette, sons Robert (Bob) Bennett of Las Cruces, and Charlie Bennett (wife Patty) of Cocoa, Florida.
His daughters Jane Laue (husband Skip)of Moriarty, New Mexico, and Elizabeth (Betsy) Janis (husband Arlen) of Pine Ridge, South Dakota. His grand daughters Andrea Janis, Niki King (Richard), Hannah Bennett, Angel Price, Amanda Laue, Ginger Bellard and Cinnamon Allen (Corbin), grandsons Daniel Janis, Owen M. Bellard, Austin Bennett, Jerry Laue, and Bryce, Jerrod and Jason (Rhonda) Rockhill. 10 great grandchildren, 5 great great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents Sylvanus and Alice Bennett, wife of 45 years Kathryn Bennett, sisters Marian Bundschuh and Barbara Crabtree, daughter Eileen Keller (nee Bennett), grand daughter Anita Georgine Janis, great grandson Jordan Lee Janis and grandson John W. Bellard III (Bubba). Funeral Services are scheduled for Saturday January 26, 2019 at La Paz Graham’s Funeral Home at 555 West Amador, Las Cruces, NM 88005. Interment to follow at the Masonic Cemetary.
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