Bennie L. Hart, 96, died Thursday, June 30. Interment in Hart Cemetery will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 6. A funeral mass will follow at St. Andrews Episcopal Church on Wednesday at 1 p.m. with Father DeWayne Adams and Father Joel Hampton officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday from 6 to 7 p.m.. Arrangements are under the direction of Melton-Kitchens Funeral Home.
Bennie Lee Hart was born on Oct. 5, 1919, in Stephens County. He graduated from high school at Parks Camp in 1936. Bennie served in the Army during WWII as a Staff Sgt. with Co. B 36th Tank Battalion. He was wounded in action in Rheinburg, Germany, on March 5, 1945. He was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star and was honorably discharged on Oct. 15, 1945, at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Bennie married Betty Jean Edwards on Oct. 23, 1948. He operated businesses in Breckenridge, including Hart Grocery and Market, Burch Drug Store, and B and J Bar. He was secretary and manager of the Elks Lodge No. 1480 for 9 years, retiring in 1990.
Bennie was a member of St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Honorary Life Member of the Breckenridge Elks Lodge No. 1480, Past Exalted Ruler and Past District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler, and a life member and past Commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #7767.
Survivors include son, Tim Hart and wife Debrah of Spring; grandchildren, Crystal Hart–Majors and husband Aaron Majors; and Candice Gardemal and husband Jeremey, all of Spring; great-grandchildren, Aidan Hart–Majors and Noah Gardemal; nephew, John Mehaffey and wife Dot; nieces, Ann Wood and husband Bob, and Jan Hart and husband Joe Putnam. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jean; parents, Ben and Pearl Hart; sister, Ardelle Mehaffey and husband Bob; and brother, Guye Hart and wife Janice.
Memorials may be made to Meals on Wheels, PO Box 16, Breckenridge, Texas 76424 or St. Andrews Episcopal Church. The family invites friends to leave a condolence or share a memory of Bennie in the online guestbook at www.meltonkitchens.com.