Lewis Earl Bennett, who resided in Ratcliff, Arkansas, passed away Saturday, November 24, 2018, in Paris, Arkansas. He was born February 14, 1937, in Branch, Arkansas, to the late James Woodford "Woody" Bennett and Golda Frances (Watson) Bennett. He was 81 years old. He was also preceded in death by a sister, Joy McAbee and two brothers, Ralph and Harold Bennett.

Lewis Earl was a retired school bus driver for 23 years for County Line School District. He also worked as manager at Little Creek Country Club in Ratcliff, and was a teacher and coach at Oark High School in Oark. He was owner and operator of Caulksville Bowling Alley for 26 years. He was a 1955 graduate of County Line High School and played basketball and baseball for the County Line Indians. Lewis Earl was an outstanding athlete and thru the years was a big supporter of County Line School Athletics. Lewis Earl played basketball for two years at Fort Smith Junior College and played minor league baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals for one year before he was injured. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, and he loved playing and singing country and gospel music. He was a 32nd degree mason, a member of Charleston Lodge 155, and a member of Coles Chapel United Methodist Church.

Funeral service will be at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 28th, at Brotherton Funeral Home Chapel in Charleston, with Bro. Roger Haney and Pastor Janet Barrow officiating. Burial, with "Masonic Rites" will be at Coles Chapel Cemetery, located south of Branch, under the direction of Brotherton Brothers Funeral Home and Flower Shop in Charleston.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Oleda Jane (Byrd) Bennett; one daughter, Marcia Parker and husband John of Barling; two sons, Greg Bennett and wife Angela of Kearney, Missouri and Geoff Bennett and wife Tracey of Spokane, Washington; two sisters, Lavahn Bevard and husband Jay of Tulsa, Oklahoma and Phyllis Whitson and husband George of Rudy; five grandchildren, Dustin Parker, Sara Brooks, Allison Bennett, Beth Gipson, and Matthew Bennett; three great-grandchildren, Rowyn Parker, Kennedy Parker and Kolton Brooks.

Pallbearers are Mike Patterson, Ron La Chappelle, Dennis Jones, Steve Young, Roger Hughey, and Bobby Sewell.

Honorary pallbearers will be Jim Wyatt, J.B. Turner, Jack Oehlschlager, Roy Gene Nixon, David Byrd, Bill Mainer, J.D. Young, Bill Riddles, Doug Humphrey, Todd Patterson and members of Charleston Lodge 155.

The family will visit with friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday night at the funeral home in Charleston.

To view the video tribute, please visit http://videos.lifetributes.com/937246

To pay an online tribute, please visit www.brothertonbrothersfuneralhomes.com.