Former Maryland resident, John Allen Bennett, 79, died October 31, 2020 in Florence, South Carolina. Due to the pandemic, a private viewing will be held at his request for his wife, children, and grandchildren. A celebration of life will be held at a later date, when it is safe to do so, at his home in Little River, South Carolina. John was born on September 7, 1941, in Lansing, North Carolina to Noah and Odell Bennett. He was raised in Ashe County as one of eleven siblings. After graduating high school in 1958, he moved to Washington DC. In the fall of 1961, he met the love of his life, Jeri Dean, of Wheaton, MD, while working at Geico. John and Jeri were wed on June 1, 1963 in Wheaton. John’s favorite pastimes were spending time with family, returning home to the mountains, and enjoying historic cars. John’s favorite car was his 1960 Chevrolet Impala with a unique black stripe. John joined the Marine Corps in 1962 and proudly served until 1968. After the Marine Corps, he returned to his job at Geico, and was later employed by Allstate from where he retired in 1999. John is survived by his wife of 57 years, Jeri; his three children, Jeff Bennett (Michelle), Susan Fugate (Carl), Cindy Hughes (Dan); eight grandchildren, Allison, Kelsie and John Bennett, Cody and Lyle Fugate, and Megan (Zac) Erickson, Nathan and Noah Hughes. In addition, he has seven siblings: Bob (Judy) Bennett, Judy (Larry) Neaves, Mary Trivette, Margaret (Glen) Mast, Michael (Diane) Bennett, Rickie (Linda) Bennett, and Becky Richardson and many nieces and nephews. John was preceded in death by his parents Noah and Odell Bennett, and his siblings Jackie Fischer, Charles Bennett, and James Bennett. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of John to the American Heart Association http://www2.heart.org/goto/John_Bennett or by mail to: American Heart Association P.O. Box 841125 Dallas, Texas 75284-1125