Retired United States Army Master Sergeant Norman Edwin Bennett, Sr. passed away on August 11, 2021, at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Los Angeles, California at the age of 86.  He was a longtime resident of North Highlands, California; Henderson, Nevada; North Las Vegas, Nevada and lastly Lancaster, California.

Norman was born on Christmas day December 25, 1933, to Mr. Finis Gaston Bennett and Margorie Lee (Edwards) Bennett in Alberta (Wilcox County) Alabama.  He lost his mother at the age of six and was reared by his aunts, Annie Benson Bennett and Sophia Bennett Stanfield, both were schoolteachers, along with his grandfather Sylvester Mark Bennett and his father Finis Gaston Bennett in the family home on Mockingbird Hill in Alberta, Alabama.  He accepted Jesus Christ at an early age and was devoted to his Protestant faith.

Norman was married to his beautiful wife Alma Eileen (Thomas) Bennett from Beloit (Dallas County) Alabama in Birmingham, Alabama on July 21, 1957.  Six children were born to this union, Jacqueline Renee Bennett, Rob'n Karen Bennett, Lisa Annette (Bennett) Ray, Norman Edwin Bennett, Jr., Leo Finis Bennett and Brenda Nicole Bennett.  He has two lovely daughters with Baunchen Bennett (Phuweing, Thailand), SFC Nattinee (Bennett) Johnson, active-duty US Army and Nirat Yuenod.  Norman and Alma Bennett remarried on November 1, 2015, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Msg. Norman E. Bennett's military and civilian education includes all levels of the Noncommissioned Officer Education System, Military Police, Air Traffic Control, Countermeasure Search/Analyst Specialist, Telemetry Signal Analyst, Noncommissioned Officer BS Advanced and Signal Support Element/Electronic Warfare Element.

Norman sung the Battle Hymn of the Republic during the graduation ceremony for Wilcox High School in Camden, Alabama where he was the President of his class and received a three-year scholarship for his outstanding baritone singing voice to Knoxville College, Tennessee in 1952.  He belonged to the College Choir, the Photo Club, the Bulldog's Football Team and the Scrollers Club of Kappa Alpha PSI. Norman was often mistaken for and compared to the great soulful singers Lou Rawls and Nat King Cole.

Msg. Norman E. Bennett's awards include: The Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal (7 ^th Award), National Defense Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Sharpshooter Badge (Rifle), Marksman Badge (Carbine) and was decorated with the distinguished Meritorious Service Medal.

Msg. Norman E. Bennett served in the United States Army for 24 years.  He was stationed in Germany and France.  The family were afforded the opportunity to travel and was stationed at Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island, New York; Fort Meade, Maryland; Fort Devens, Massachusetts and overseas at Kagnew Station, Asmara, Ethiopia in Africa.

Norman took up broadcasting while in the military which led to him becoming the Sports News Anchorman in Asmara, Ethiopia on American television and as a Disc Jockey on the local radio station playing his Rhythm and Blues music known as "Benny Norman, A Man and his Soul," on the weekends.  Norman's R & B music show followed his long-time friend and military colleague, Al Brandenburg's Jazz music show.

Msg. Norman E. Bennett last country of overseas assignment was to Korea.  He also served as Senior Listed Advisor to the ASA Training and Readiness Assistance Team, Readiness group as his duty station was in Los Angeles, California. He was honorably retired from the United States Army while assigned to USARR IX, at Presidio of San Francisco, California on April 30, 1976.

Norman is also retired from Bendix Cooperation where he lived and worked in Shemya, Alaska with his good friend Mr. Benny Trapp and he worked in Khon Kaen, Thailand as a Logistic Specialist.  Followed by his retirement from the Citizens Area Transit, the first bus transit system in Las Vegas, Nevada where was a bus driver for several years. Lastly, he worked at the Commissary at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Norman Edwin Bennett, Sr. was an amazing father to his children.  He was highly respected and loved to tell jokes to make you laugh.  He had a memory like an elephant, and he could recall events, places and experiences by the year alone.  He always had a new story to tell with clear recollection and attention to names and details. In his spare time, he played golf and enjoyed following Tiger Woods golfing career, listening to jazz and all types of music.

Norman was preceded in death by his wife Alma Eileen Bennett of Sacramento, California, his oldest daughter Jacqueline Renee Bennett of Sacramento, California, and his siblings Arthur Collins Bennett, Willie Bennett, Merlene Keys, Inetta Coleman, Vens Lee Parker, Reacie Mae Tates Moore, Emanuel Parker and is survived by Annie Grace Bennette, Carrie Bennett, Earnestine (Pam) Bennett, Benjamin Bennett and Kathleen Davenport.

He leaves his Legacy – Children, Rob'n Karen Bennett, Sacramento, California; Lisa Annette (Bennett) Ray (Dino Sloan) Lancaster, California; Norman Edwin Bennett, Jr., Manhattan, New York; Leo Finis Bennett, North Las Vegas, Nevada; Brenda Nicole Bennett, Sacramento, California and SFC Nattinee (SFC Shawn) Johnson, Fort Steward, Georgia and Nirat (Greg) Ladner of Las Vegas, Nevada.

He leaves his Legacy - Ten grandchildren, Foxcille Shemya Eileen Bennett-Jackson of Citrus Heights, Shasta Simone Slaughter of Sacramento, California, Justin LaMarr Cazz (Denise) Bennett-Jackson of Sacramento, California, DeJon Finis Johnson of Sacramento, California, Shayla Renee Robinson and Stephen Robinson of Sacramento, California, Ezra Dominguez, Shyloh Dominguez, Jayden Finis Bennett and Leo Finis Bennett II of North Las Vegas, Nevada.

He leaves his Legacy - Seven great grandchildren, Teh'Yaunah LaShay Todd, Terris LiBrih Todd, twins Janah'Ya Dennah'jh Lee and Jeremy Deon Lee, Jr. of Sacramento, California, DeJon Finis Johnson, II, Ny'omii Samonee Thomas and Za'nylah Aloni Allen of Sacramento, California and host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, military colleagues and dear friends.