Holly Wells Bennett, Jr.
January 9, 1930 — September 22, 2014
Holly W. Bennett Jr, 84, of 1706 Arbutus Ave, Halethorpe, MD died Monday, September 22, 2014 at the home of his grandson surrounded by family.
Mr. Bennett was born Jan 9, 1930 in Baltimore the son of the late Holly W. and Edith C. Bennett Sr. He grew up in Catonsville and attended Catonsville High school Class of 1949.
He enlisted in the Unites States Marine Corps Reserve on 9 Nov 1948 in Baltimore. The Marine Corps called up his unit on 25 Aug 1950 and they were sent to Korea. While serving in the Korean War he was wounded in action and earned the Purple Heart, Presidential Unit Citation awarded the First Marine Division with one bronze star for service in Korea 27 Nov to 11 Dec 1950, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with four bronze stars for participation in the Communist China Aggression, First United Nations Counter Offensive, Communist China Spring Offensive and the United Nations Summer-Fall Offensive, and the United Nations Service Medal. He was part of the famous Marine operations at the Chosin Reservoir during his time in Korea. On 27 Feb 1953 he was released from active duty as a Corporal from Camp Pendleton, CA and returned to his Reserve Unit in Baltimore. After attaining the rank of Sergeant in the 1st EngrBn, USMCR, MCRTC, Fort McHenry on 23 Mar 1954 he received his Honorable Discharge from the Marines on 29 Mar 1957. He then enlisted in the Maryland National Guard, Company “K”, 175th Infantry (Fifth Maryland) in Baltimore. He served in the Guard until 13 Jan 1959 upon being Honorably Discharged from the HQ & SVC Co., 121st Engr Bn (C).
During his time with the National Guard he became active with the Civil Air Patrol in Catonsville as an advisor/leader where he met his wife Juleanne K Burke. They were married on 8 April, 1956 in West Baltimore Methodist Church and raised two children in Edmondson Heights where he was very active in various community organizations.
He was retired from the Baltimore Gas & Electric Company where he worked for thirty-seven years. Starting with the company in March 1952 as a chauffeur, he became an equipment operator and eventually Construction Coordinator before retiring in 1989. His entire career with BG&E was at the Howard Service Center on Ilchester Road in Howard County. Much of his time with BG&E was working on the new “planned community” Columbia.
He was a life member of VFW Post 7472 in Ellicott City holding several offices including Post Commander and was a member of the Marine Corps League of Ocean City where he resided for twenty plus years after retirement.
He was very active throughout his life with the Boy Scouts of America both in Baltimore Area and Ocean City. In 1942 he joined Troop 57 in Baltimore and was active with that Troop for many years. When son Holly III joined Scouts in Edmondson Heights he was first the Cubmaster for Pack 889 and later the Scoutmaster for Troop 889. During his Scouting career he served on the National Pike District Staff as well assisting many area Troops and Packs. He would routinely use a week of his vacation to take Scouts to summer camp at Broad Creek Scout Reservation and Rock Enon Scout Camp. On June 12th, 1985 Mr. Bennett achieved the highest honor for adult leaders by receiving the Silver Beaver Award for his lifelong service to the Scouting Program. Thanks to his support and guidance both his son, Holly III and his grandson, Holly IV earned the rank of Eagle Scout while in scouting.
For many years Mr. Bennett also found time to get involved with the EDRECO Little League baseball program. There he was an umpire for the baseball leagues, spending many summer days behind the plate fending off stray pitches and upset parents. For several years he held the position of commissioner of baseball for the EDRECO Program.
Perhaps Mr. Bennett was best known for playing Santa Claus at local children’s hospitals and schools for over forty years. He first started when he was fifteen years old and substituted for an ill neighbor who could not attend a party as Santa for underprivileged children at the Westway Movie Theatre. This started a lifelong love of the role and he continued for over forty years playing Santa for children with disabilities at a long list of places; Rosewood, Kernan Hospital
, Woodlawn and Delray Cerebral Palsy Centers, Rolling Road School, St. William of York school, Edmondson Heights Elementary, Frederick Villa Nursing Home and many more. For more than twenty years he was the Santa at the Woodlawn Tree Lighting Ceremony. Santa was a role he was well suited for as there was no padding necessary and often no beard was required later in his life. He was always “portly” and in the later years sported white hair and full beard that children could tug in amazement when they realized this was no fake. He always refused payment for these services and has received several awards and many letters of thanks from the community. Using two weeks of his vacation each year to conduct these visits in the weeks before Christmas BG&E also recognized his efforts with an article in the company publication Folks.
Surviving with his wife the former Juleanne K. Burke are a son, Holly W. Bennett III of Ellicott City and daughter, Teresa S. Oros of Eldersburg; sister, Patricia S. Evans and brother Ralph B. Bennett both of Catonsville; and five grandchildren, Holly W. Bennett IV, Heather N. Bennett, Samantha A. Broadwick, Jessica C. Oros and Juleanne E. Oros.
Mr. Bennett was born Jan 9, 1930 in Baltimore the son of the late Holly W. and Edith C. Bennett Sr. He grew up in Catonsville and attended Catonsville High school Class of 1949.
He enlisted in the Unites States Marine Corps Reserve on 9 Nov 1948 in Baltimore. The Marine Corps called up his unit on 25 Aug 1950 and they were sent to Korea. While serving in the Korean War he was wounded in action and earned the Purple Heart, Presidential Unit Citation awarded the First Marine Division with one bronze star for service in Korea 27 Nov to 11 Dec 1950, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with four bronze stars for participation in the Communist China Aggression, First United Nations Counter Offensive, Communist China Spring Offensive and the United Nations Summer-Fall Offensive, and the United Nations Service Medal. He was part of the famous Marine operations at the Chosin Reservoir during his time in Korea. On 27 Feb 1953 he was released from active duty as a Corporal from Camp Pendleton, CA and returned to his Reserve Unit in Baltimore. After attaining the rank of Sergeant in the 1st EngrBn, USMCR, MCRTC, Fort McHenry on 23 Mar 1954 he received his Honorable Discharge from the Marines on 29 Mar 1957. He then enlisted in the Maryland National Guard, Company “K”, 175th Infantry (Fifth Maryland) in Baltimore. He served in the Guard until 13 Jan 1959 upon being Honorably Discharged from the HQ & SVC Co., 121st Engr Bn (C).
During his time with the National Guard he became active with the Civil Air Patrol in Catonsville as an advisor/leader where he met his wife Juleanne K Burke. They were married on 8 April, 1956 in West Baltimore Methodist Church and raised two children in Edmondson Heights where he was very active in various community organizations.
He was retired from the Baltimore Gas & Electric Company where he worked for thirty-seven years. Starting with the company in March 1952 as a chauffeur, he became an equipment operator and eventually Construction Coordinator before retiring in 1989. His entire career with BG&E was at the Howard Service Center on Ilchester Road in Howard County. Much of his time with BG&E was working on the new “planned community” Columbia.
He was a life member of VFW Post 7472 in Ellicott City holding several offices including Post Commander and was a member of the Marine Corps League of Ocean City where he resided for twenty plus years after retirement.
He was very active throughout his life with the Boy Scouts of America both in Baltimore Area and Ocean City. In 1942 he joined Troop 57 in Baltimore and was active with that Troop for many years. When son Holly III joined Scouts in Edmondson Heights he was first the Cubmaster for Pack 889 and later the Scoutmaster for Troop 889. During his Scouting career he served on the National Pike District Staff as well assisting many area Troops and Packs. He would routinely use a week of his vacation to take Scouts to summer camp at Broad Creek Scout Reservation and Rock Enon Scout Camp. On June 12th, 1985 Mr. Bennett achieved the highest honor for adult leaders by receiving the Silver Beaver Award for his lifelong service to the Scouting Program. Thanks to his support and guidance both his son, Holly III and his grandson, Holly IV earned the rank of Eagle Scout while in scouting.
For many years Mr. Bennett also found time to get involved with the EDRECO Little League baseball program. There he was an umpire for the baseball leagues, spending many summer days behind the plate fending off stray pitches and upset parents. For several years he held the position of commissioner of baseball for the EDRECO Program.
Perhaps Mr. Bennett was best known for playing Santa Claus at local children’s hospitals and schools for over forty years. He first started when he was fifteen years old and substituted for an ill neighbor who could not attend a party as Santa for underprivileged children at the Westway Movie Theatre. This started a lifelong love of the role and he continued for over forty years playing Santa for children with disabilities at a long list of places; Rosewood, Kernan Hospital
, Woodlawn and Delray Cerebral Palsy Centers, Rolling Road School, St. William of York school, Edmondson Heights Elementary, Frederick Villa Nursing Home and many more. For more than twenty years he was the Santa at the Woodlawn Tree Lighting Ceremony. Santa was a role he was well suited for as there was no padding necessary and often no beard was required later in his life. He was always “portly” and in the later years sported white hair and full beard that children could tug in amazement when they realized this was no fake. He always refused payment for these services and has received several awards and many letters of thanks from the community. Using two weeks of his vacation each year to conduct these visits in the weeks before Christmas BG&E also recognized his efforts with an article in the company publication Folks.
Surviving with his wife the former Juleanne K. Burke are a son, Holly W. Bennett III of Ellicott City and daughter, Teresa S. Oros of Eldersburg; sister, Patricia S. Evans and brother Ralph B. Bennett both of Catonsville; and five grandchildren, Holly W. Bennett IV, Heather N. Bennett, Samantha A. Broadwick, Jessica C. Oros and Juleanne E. Oros.
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