Officers, firefighters and friends of the West Grove Fire Company marked the passing of two wonderful members of the WGFC family today at the joint funeral of Cliff and Betty Bennett of West Grove. In a lovely ceremony held at the Avon Grove Church of the Nazarene, memories were shared of the couple, who passed away this past weekend within hours of each other.

Bonded as partners in marriage for nearly 70 years, Cliff and Betty raised a family in the fire company during Cliff's more than 66 years of membership. Members of their family have been active and remain active at West Grove. Sons Bob and Tom both were members, with Bob moving on to be Chief of the Christiana Fire Company in Delaware, and Tom serving on the haz mat and emergency team at DuPont's experimental station. Daughter Barb was the treasurer of the former WGFC Ambulance Division and also secretary of the fire company. Granddaughter Jamie became and EMT on the ambulance. Grandson David is a WGFC member, and runs at Longwood. Great grandson Jason has just become a member at West Grove.

During his 66 years of service, Cliff rose to the rank of Assistant Fire Chief, serving from 1972-1974 and then again in 1976. He also was a long time captain of the fire police, with 2007 being his last year as Captain. Wife Betty, while not a member, played the supporting role for Cliff as a fire house spouse, always being there to support Cliff and the children as they responded to various emergency calls throughout the years.

In a eulogy delivered by the fire company's Bill Wohl, Cliff's and Betty's dedication to the Avon Grove community through their association with the WGFC was celebrated. The family has lost a wonderful couple, and the fire company has lost valuable members. Yet, despite the sadness of the day, there was reason to celebrate a lifetimes work, and the legacy they have left behind in wonderful children, grand children and great grandchildren, many of whom remain in the fire service.

Let by President Tom Glass and Fire Chief John Chambers, the WGFC was represented by many members at the service. WGFC members served as pall bearers, and the fire police did an amazing job on the roadways, managing to help keep a fire company funeral get successfully through a long procession though West Grove and Avondale. Cliff's casket was carried to the grave site on Elsie, the WGFC's antique fire truck, followed by a procession of fire trucks from West Grove and Avondale. At the grave site, the procession passed under an enormous American flag, flown high on Ladders 22 & 25 (Longwood). WGFC member Ed Gouge played bag pipes at the ceremony.

Cliff Bennett's obituary can be seen here: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dailylocal/obituary.aspx?pid=180398750
Betty Bennett's obituary can be seen here: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dailylocal/obituary.aspx?n=mary-betty-bennett&pid=180398751

Our thanks for the support of the Avondale Fire Company who lent their firehouse hall for the post ceremony lunch, and for their organization's fire police support.

We honor our Cliff and Betty Bennett. Our thoughts and prayers are with the extended Bennett family. We were lucky to serve with Cliff and to know Betty in our fire company family. May they rest in peace.