Harry Bennett, 103, Avon Park, Fla.
Harry Bennett attended Adventist schools most of his life. He met his wife, Ercel, at Southern Junior College (Southern Adventist University), and they were married in 1940.
With a B.S. in nursing education from Washington Sanitarium and Hospital in Takoma Park, Md., service to God took the couple to South Dakota, Florida, Virginia, and Texas.
In 1945, Harry began serving for 13 years at Rwankeri Union Mission in Africa. Mission director, youth leader, Sabbath School director, education department director, secretary-treasurer, mission president, and conference president were all a part of Bennett’s service. His last two years in Africa were spent as a professor at Heidelberg College near Capetown, South Africa.
Forty-five years ago, he and his wife moved to Avon Park, where Harry became a chaplain at Walker Memorial Hospital (Florida Hospital, Heartland). Today, he lives in the same home and continues to be active at Avon Park Church. Three times a week he makes rounds at a local nursing home, and still enjoys bringing peace and comfort to patients, friends, and family.
What’s the wonder of it all for Harry Bennett? It is 103 years of service to God, and the wonderful memories that a life-time of service provides.
Robert “Bob” J. Dove, 100, New Smyrna Beach, Fla.
Bob was born November 11, 1917, in Newport, R.I., and grew up on a farm in Bridgeton, N.J. A veteran of World War ll, Sgt. Robert Dove received an honorary discharge from the Army on December 15, 1944.
After graduating as a registered nurse, his spirit of adventure took him to nursing positions in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Aruba, and Michigan. After retirement at age 61, he became a snowbird, eventually settling in New Smyrna Beach.
During Bob’s older teenage years, he and his mother joined the Adventist Church. He now serves as an honorary elder of New Smyrna Beach Church, his home church for the past 35 years. He was always active in church, serving as elder, deacon, Sabbath School teacher, and volunteering many hours in maintaining the physical building and grounds of the church.
At 100 years old, Bob has slowed down a bit from being active in sports activities. He enjoys relaxing, writing his memoirs, visiting with friends and family, singing with visitors on Sabbath afternoon, and occasionally eating out.
His family includes his wife of 44 years, Marilyn; four sons, Bob Dove of Bradenton, Fla., Guy (Janis) Dove of Portland, Oreg., Dennis Dove of Palm Bay, Fla., and Brian (Betty) Karpovich of Brown City, Mich.; two daughters, Patrice Dove of New Smyrna Beach, and Coralee Johnson of Villa Ridge, Mo.; 14 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren. His first wife, Mary; one son, Tom Karpovich; and one daughter, Kay McClelland, are deceased.
Florida | March 2018
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