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G.W. Bennett was born and grew up near Normangee in East Texas. As a young man he taught in Dayton where he met and married Lona Renfroe, one of his students. The early years of his adult life included endeavors at ranching near Peacock, oil related trucking at Eastland, and teaching school in Kent and Motley Counties.
Grover Bennett was an active Methodist and Democrat. A one-time candidate for County Judge, Bennett lost the election to Judge Edwin Boedeker by approximately fourteen votes. He farmed near Afton for over thirty years before his death in 1960.
Lona Ellender Renfroe Bennett was one of ten children born to Jack and Sarah Renfroe. Her early childhood was spent near Roswell, New Mexico. Her family moved to Kent County in 1900 and settled on what was later known as Renfroe Flat. At the age of 16 she married G. W. Bennett in Dayton.
Ralph Bennett was the only child born to Lona and G. W. Bennett. As a young woman she fought crippling arthritis which greatly affected her entire life. In later years, her enjoyment came from time spent with her three grandchildren - Saturday trips to Spur for shopping and visiting, and friends in her church at Afton Methodist. She died in August of 1960, three months before her husband´s death. They are buried at Afton cemetery.
Source: Dickens County History...its Land and People © Dickens Historical Commission; Printer: Craftsman Inc. Lubbock, Texas 1986
Funeral services for Mrs. G. W. Bennett, 67 Afton, were conducted at 2:30 p.m. Sunday in the Afton Methodist Church.
The Rev. M. R. Mathis, pastor of the Afton church officiated at the services for Mrs. Bennett, who died Friday in the Stanley Hospital after an illness that extended over 30 years.
Mrs. Bennett was born Lona Renfro in Oklahoma, March 24, 1893. Her family moved to Jayton from Oklahoma and she was married to G.W. Bennett on November 11, 1910. They had been living in the Afton community for a number of years.
Survivors include her husband; a son, Ralph Bennett, Afton; three brothers, J.E. Renfro, Brady; M.P. Renfro, Melvin and E.E. Renfro, Big Spring; a sister, Mrs. Lydia Scot, Tucumcari, NM and three grandchildren.
Burial was in Afton Cemetery, under the direction of Eudy-Seale Funeral Home, Matador.
©The Texas Spur; August 11, 1960
Funeral services for a pioneer Dickens county School teacher. G.W. Bennett, were held in the First Methodist church, Afton, with Rev. W. B. Vaughn, officiating. He was assisted by Rev. Mathis, pastor of the Afton Church.
Grover W. Bennett, 75, was found dead at his home Sunday morning. He had apparently died in his sleep, the victim of a heart attack.
A farmer and rancher, Bennett had lived in the Afton area for 50 years. He was formerly a school teacher at Whiteflat, Jayton, and Roaring Springs in addition to several schools which are no longer in existence.
A one-time candidate for county judge, Bennett came close to being elected when he ran against Judge Edwin H. Boedecker. He lost by approximately 14 votes.
He was an unsuccessful candidate for county commissioner in the recent Primary Election.
His brother, Gordon Bennett, is currently president of McMurry College, Abilene.
Survivors include a son, Ralph Bennett, Afton; two sisters, Mrs. Ruby Flemming, Pharr; and Mrs. Effie Ferguson, Ft. Worth.
Three grandchildren also survive.
His wife died in August of this year.
Pallbearers included Joe Cornett, L. Cornett, Gus Martin, Tom Bateman, Leonard Clements and Gaston Jackson.
Interment was in Afton Cemetery with Eudy-Seale Funeral Home, Matador, in charge of arrangements.
©The Texas Spur; Thursday, December 22, 1960
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