Mrs. Wilma Jean Ritchie Bennett, age 75, 617 Walnut Street, Elizabethton, went home at last to be with her Lord and her husband Wednesday, February 29, 2012, at the Johnson City Medical Center following an extended illness.
A native of Carter County, she was the daughter of the late Teddy G. and Selma Bellamy Ritchie. Mrs. Bennett had been a nursing assistant at local hospitals and nursing homes and was a sales clerk at Ames Department Store for five years. She was a member of Piney Grove Freewill Baptist Church. Mrs. Bennett loved gospel music.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Buster “Buddy†Bennett, December 5, 2006; a brother, David E. Ritchie; and a sister, Hilda Glenita Ritchie.
Survivors include a son, Steve Allen Bennett, Unicoi, TN; three sisters, Linda Ruth White, Elizabethton, Barbara Carlock and husband, Bill, Apison, TN, and Patsy Depp and husband, Joel, Crestwood, KY; four brothers, William G. “Bill†Ritchie and wife, Joyce, Lake Suzy, FL, Teddy J. Ritchie and wife, Sharon, Knoxville, TN, James Wayne Ritchie, Elizabethton, and Randy E. Ritchie and wife, Nell, Austin, TX; a special nephew, Stanley White and wife, Angel, and their children, Levi, Logan and Lacy, all of Elizabethton; a special niece, Penny Ritchie and her son, Matthew Taylor, both of Elizabethton; and special friends, Dan and Lelia Perry, Bluff City. Many additional nieces and nephews whom she adored also survive.
Funeral service for Mrs. Wilma Jean Ritchie Bennett will be conducted at 2:00 P.M. Friday, March 2, 2012, in the Sunset Chapel of Hathaway-Percy Funeral and Cremation Services with Rev. Kinley Knight officiating. Music will be under the direction of Kristy Knight.
Interment will follow the funeral service on Friday in Happy Valley Memorial Park. Active pallbearers will be Matthew Taylor, Larry Gobble, Robert Gobble, Bill Carlock, Joel Depp and Donnie Ritchie. Honorary pallbearers will be Stanley White and Levi White.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 1:00-2:00 P.M. on Friday prior to the funeral service or at the residence of her sister, Linda Ruth White, 617 Walnut Street, Elizabethton, at other times.
The family would like to express a special thanks to the nurses and staff of Life Care Center of Elizabethton and to Judy Deloach, the nurse and staff of Ivy Hall Nursing Home for their loving care to Mrs. Bennett.
Online condolences may be sent to the family and viewed by visiting our website at www.hathawaypercy.com.
Hathaway-Percy Funeral and Cremation Services is serving the Bennett family. Office: (423) 543-5544.
