Our Hardworking Ancestors
Long days, backbreaking work, low pay: In the late 19th century and early 20th century, the average American worked 7 days a week, 12 hrs a day just to survive. Even children as young as 5 or 6...
George Lawrence Benning (1898 - 1946)
George Lawrence Benning, father to 2 children, was born on April 21, 1898 in Boone, Iowa United States of America. He was born to Immogene Nelson (Millard) Benning and William Joseph Benning, with siblings Lloyd, Lois, William, Henry, Walter, Cora, Mabel, and Grace. He married Mildred (Wilson) Benning in 1922 and they later divorced in 1926. They gave birth to Lois (Benning) Ewen. George married Eileen Tasker and George died in 1946. They gave birth to Marian Joyce (Benning) Kroetch. He died around August 23, 1946 in Bremerton, Washington United States of America at age 48.
George was my grandmother's Marian Joyce Kroetch, who later was known as Joyce Vandever, father. He died when grandma was only sixteen and that made a big impact on her life. Over the years certain stories were passed down to me that define what I know about the type of person George was.
George was married twice and in his second marriage had my grandmother. The family lived in Bremerton Washington, a small port town big during WW2, during the 1940s and owned the Chevrolet car dealership. George inherited the car dealership when his boss randomly died in a fishing trip together. I'll have to get more details about that one :) He was very active in the business, social and political components of the community. I know that he was a Freemason and that he had some strong relationships with State politicians.
One cool story about George: He had a bit of real estate in Bremerton and rented two(?) homes to his employees. Upon George's death his will stipulated that the deeds to the homes get passed along to the employees.
Note from Kathy Pinna: George didn't inherit the Reed Chevrolet dealership. He and Micky Reed were on a (local) fishing trip and Micky drowned. Micky's widow, Meeka (who I knew - she and my grandmother were friends until they died), sold the dealership to George. He called it Reed-Benning dealership as a homage to Micky. Chevrolet didn't like the fact that a woman (oh lordy, a WOMAN!) sold the dealership on her own so they made new rules. The upshot? When George, my grandfather, died, my grandmother couldn't sell the dealership!
Also, the story my Mom told me re: the homes - the people weren't employees but simply people who lived in Bremerton at the time. Since George was a Mason, he was also involved in charitable activities. Mom said that no one (including family) knew that he had bought (I heard 3) houses for people who had problems paying rent and were going to be evicted. (This was probably around the end of the Depression.) He didn't charge the tenants rent and when he died (within a few years), he left the homes to the tenants. However, my sister (who says she has a copy of George's will), says that she can find no record of this.
George was my grandmother's Marian Joyce Kroetch, who later was known as Joyce Vandever, father. He died when grandma was only sixteen and that made a big impact on her life. Over the years certain stories were passed down to me that define what I know about the type of person George was.
George was married twice and in his second marriage had my grandmother. The family lived in Bremerton Washington, a small port town big during WW2, during the 1940s and owned the Chevrolet car dealership. George inherited the car dealership when his boss randomly died in a fishing trip together. I'll have to get more details about that one :) He was very active in the business, social and political components of the community. I know that he was a Freemason and that he had some strong relationships with State politicians.
One cool story about George: He had a bit of real estate in Bremerton and rented two(?) homes to his employees. Upon George's death his will stipulated that the deeds to the homes get passed along to the employees.
Note from Kathy Pinna: George didn't inherit the Reed Chevrolet dealership. He and Micky Reed were on a (local) fishing trip and Micky drowned. Micky's widow, Meeka (who I knew - she and my grandmother were friends until they died), sold the dealership to George. He called it Reed-Benning dealership as a homage to Micky. Chevrolet didn't like the fact that a woman (oh lordy, a WOMAN!) sold the dealership on her own so they made new rules. The upshot? When George, my grandfather, died, my grandmother couldn't sell the dealership!
Also, the story my Mom told me re: the homes - the people weren't employees but simply people who lived in Bremerton at the time. Since George was a Mason, he was also involved in charitable activities. Mom said that no one (including family) knew that he had bought (I heard 3) houses for people who had problems paying rent and were going to be evicted. (This was probably around the end of the Depression.) He didn't charge the tenants rent and when he died (within a few years), he left the homes to the tenants. However, my sister (who says she has a copy of George's will), says that she can find no record of this.
George Lawrence Benning Biography
With today's technology we are able to write and share our own history which lasts forever online. Our ancestors never had a chance to document their lives. This biography is dedicated to memorialize the life of George Benning, honor his ancestry & genealogy, and his immediate Benning family.
Most Commonly Known Name
George Lawrence Benning
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First nameGeorge
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Middle name
Lawrence
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Last Name(s) |
Nickname(s) or aliases |
Gender
Male
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Birth
George Benning was born on in Boone, Iowa United States of America
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Death
George Benning died in Bremerton, Kitsap County, Washington United States of America
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Cause of death
I'm not positive exactly how George died. However, I believe it might have been alcohol related as he was a heavy social drinker.
Note from granddaughter: He was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver and was treated for it for at least a year before he died. That is the cause of death on his death certificate. |
Burial / Funeral
Forest Lawn Cemetery, 5409 Kitsap Way, in Bremerton, Kitsap County, Washington United States 98312
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Obituary
Unknown.
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Ethnicity & Lineage
What is George's ethnicity and where did his parents, grandparents & great-grandparents come from?
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Nationality & Locations Lived
Unknown.
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Religion
Unknown. Was George a religious man?
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Last Known Residence
Unknown.
Did George move a lot?
Where was his last known location?
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Education
Did George finish grade school, get a GED, go to high school, get a college degree or masters?
What schools or universities did George attend?
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Professions
Share what George did for a living or if he had a career or profession.
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Personal Life & Organizations
Unknown
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Military Service
Did George serve in the military or did a war or conflict interfere with his life?
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Average Age
George Lawrence Benning lived
24 years shorter than
the average Benning family member
when he died at the age of 48.
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Life Expectancy |
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Looking for a different George Benning? View other bios of people named George Bennings |
George Lawrence Benning Family Tree
George's immediate relatives including parents, siblings, partnerships and children in the Benning family tree.
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George's Parents
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Parents:
Siblings:
Relationships:
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Cause of Separation: Divorce
George Lawrence Benning & Mildred (Wilson) Benning
1922 - 1926Cause of Separation: Divorce
Spouse:
Children:
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Cause of Separation: Death
George Lawrence Benning & Eileen Constance (Tasker) Benning
1946Cause of Separation: Death
Spouse:
Children:
Photos and snapshots taken of George Lawrence Benning, his Benning family, and locations and places or events from his life.
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George Benning Obituary
This obit of George Lawrence Benning is maintained by George's followers. Contribute to her obituary and include details such as cemetery, burial, newspaper obituary and grave or marker inscription if available.
George Lawrence Benning, father to 2 children, died around August 23, 1946 in Bremerton, Washington United States of America at age 48. He was buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Bremerton, Washington. He was born on April 21, 1898 in Boone, Iowa United States of America. He was born to Immogene Nelson (Millard) Benning and William Joseph Benning, with siblings Lloyd, Lois, William, Henry, Walter, Cora, Mabel, and Grace. George married Mildred (Wilson) Benning in 1922 and they later divorced in 1926. They gave birth to Lois (Benning) Ewen. He also married Eileen Tasker and George died in 1946. They gave birth to Marian Joyce (Benning) Kroetch.
Followers & Sources
Source(s):
Other Records of George Lawrence Benning
1898 - 1946 World Events
Refresh this page to see various historical events that occurred during George's lifetime
In 1898, in the year that George Lawrence Benning was born, on February 15th, the USS Maine exploded and sank in Havana harbor. The reason for the explosion has never been found, but it killed 266 men. "Remember the Maine" became a rallying cry and precipitated the United States' declaration of war on Spain two months later - the beginning of the Spanish-American War. On December 10th, the war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris. The Treaty gave the U.S. Puerto Rico, the Philippines, Guam - for $20 million - and, temporarily, Cuba.
In 1907, when he was only 9 years old, the Monongah coal mining disaster occurred on December 6th, happening at the Fairmont Coal Company’s No. 6 and No. 8 mines.. Over 361 miners were killed. Because there was no breathing apparatus at the time to help rescuers, recovery efforts were greatly hampered. It is considered the worst mining disaster in American history and led to government oversight in mining practices.
In 1923, at the age of 25 years old, George was alive when on November 8th and 9th, Adolf Hitler and his followers (the early Nazi party) staged the "Beer Hall Putsch" in Munich in an attempt to take over Bavaria (a state in Germany). They failed. Hitler was charged with treason and convicted, receiving a sentence of 5 years. He served under 1 year in jail.
In 1939, he was 41 years old when in May, Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the first full-length animated film, reached a total international gross of $6.5 million which made it (to then) the most successful sound film of all time. First released in December 1937, it was originally dubbed "Disney's Folly" but the premiere received a standing ovation from the audience. At the 11th Academy Awards in February 1939, Walt Disney won an Academy Honorary Award - a full-size Oscar statuette and seven miniature ones - for Snow White.
In 1946, in the year of George Lawrence Benning's passing, on July 4th, the Philippines gained independence from the United States. In 1964, Independence Day in the Philippines was moved from July 4th to June 12th at the insistence of nationalists and historians.
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