Obituary of Harry Ezekiel Bennett Jr.

Harry was born on November 15, 1934, at St. Luke's Hospital in Jacksonville, FL, to H.E. & Esther W. Bennett of Cocoa, FL. He attended local schools until his 2 last years of high school, when he transferred to Bolles Military Academy in Jacksonville. After graduation from Bolles, he enrolled at Florida Southern College in Lakeland, FL. He received a B.A. degree in industrial arts in January, 1957.

Upon his graduation, he married Patricia Kuhn of Lakeland, and they moved to Rockledge.

Harry entered the family business of retail apparel and remained in this occupation until 1991. During that time he owned and operated a men's shop in Cocoa until 1970 and a ladies' apparel shop in Cocoa which moved to Merritt Square and finally to Cocoa Beach.

Harry always loved boating and over the years he made the transition from motor boats, to sailboats, to kayaks. His pride and joy was a Soverel 30 which sank during Hurricane Erin, but not before he made several trips to the Bahamas.

After his retirement, Harry and Pat traveled with a trailer on various trips around the U.S. They went as far as Seattle in the northwest, and to Quebec in the northeast with many trips to Maine and West Virginia as well.

Although legally blind from birth from a congenital eye disease, Harry was a craftsman with wood. Upon his retirement, his favorite hobby was designing and making half-hull boat models.

He is survived by Pat, his wife of 66 years. As per his wishes, no services are scheduled. Condolences at www.afcfcare.com