Georgina Howard (Howard) Bennett

Georgina Howard Bennett died peacefully in her sleep on March 15, 2022. Georgina was the mother of two sons, Paul Howard Bennett of Houston Texas and Earl Marsh Bennett of Stockton, New Jersey. Her husband, Earl Lewis Bennett, predeceased her. Georgina lived a full and interesting life of 98 years and left it very much on her terms.

Georgina was born February 7, 1924 in Fremantle, Australia. Her dad, Hubert Marsh was an Australian engineer, highly decorated war veteran in World War I fighting in Belgium for the ANZAC forces, and a pioneer in electric arc welding while operating welding supply companies in Australia and New Zealand. Hubert met Georgina’s Mother, Ethel May Howard, during WWI, married her in 1918 in London, and they returned to Hubert’s Australia. Georgina was brought up in both Australia and New Zealand, a skilled tennis player and strong swimmer. Georgina met her husband, Earl, who was then serving in the US forces in World War II, in Melbourne. They were married in Sydney in 1943.

Georgina then settled in the US, a war bride like her Mother. They resided in New Jersey and raised their two sons there. Sunday was a day of worship at the Trinity Lutheran Church, except in the summer when boating, swimming, and fishing at the Jersey shore became the high point of the week. She served as bookkeeper in her husband’s appliance business, kept an orderly home and attended to her prized garden of azaleas, roses and dogwoods. Georgina and her husband greatly valued education and provided their boys with an education at the schools of their choice. She was a patient Mom who quietly urged achievement, and an ever supportive wife. She traveled widely to Australia and New Zealand, the Caribbean and both western and eastern Europe.

When her husband’s planned retirement was cut short by a car accident in 1978, Georgina retired first to Sea Island, North Carolina and then to Southampton Twp, New Jersey where she spent the last 32 years of her life. Georgina was an ever faithful member of the Oak Grove Presbyterian Church. Her family and community knew her as a person of faith.

She became Nana to her Granddaughters Amy, Allison, Genevieve, Kathleen and Grace and her Grandson, Christopher. She is survived as well by her Great Grandchildren Bennett, Lincoln, Amelia, Leonard and Marie Georgina.

Her Grandchildren knew her as a person of the highest standards, sharp and witty retorts, a gentle impatience for nonsense, and thoughtful intelligence. Integrity, humility and independence were expected as foundation values. ‘Orderly’ was a word she used to describe the good and refined. She decried the impractical and the useless. She loved to garden, her paintings of the Australian outdoors, and learning of the accomplishments and adventures of her family members. Georgina was beloved by her family.

Georgina’s sister Mavis predeceased her, but she is survived by Mavis’ daughter, Suzanne Rouphael and her family in Perth, Australia and by her cousin Bill Howard and his family in England and by her second cousin, Rita Stone. Georgina was a lifelong correspondent with her family abroad who treasured her regular and detailed observations of her life in America. A large part of her heart never left Western Australia and a part of her spirit always resided in Freemantle, Adelaide, Melbourne and Auckland.

Georgina will be deeply missed by her sons and Grandchildren and her extended family. A Memorial Service is planned at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington D.C. when her remains are interred with her husband, Major Earl Lewis Bennett. Gifts in remembrance of Georgina may be given to UNICEF (or other international charity) to protect the children of Ukraine.

She has rejoined her deceased loved ones and now resides in heaven with her loving God and Savior Jesus Christ. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.” Psalm 23:4.  (www.BradleyStow.com)

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