Robert Calvin Bennett

Robert "Cal" Bennett of Boulder, Colo., formerly of Highlands Ranch, died Friday, Jan. 1, 2016 at Morningstar Assisted Living in the presence of his son and daughter-in-law. He was 92. A memorial service in celebration of his life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 23 at Arapahoe Road Baptist Church, 780 East Arapahoe Road, Centennial, Colo. Military honors will be provided by the United States Marine Corps. A reception will follow the service at the church. Private family interment will be held at Ft. Logan National Cemetery in Denver. Cal was born Aug. 4, 1923 to William Cecil Bennett and Bertie Olive (Parnell) Bennett in Gilpin, Texas. He attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he received a Bachelor's degree in business administration. On May 26, 1944, he married Alice Marie Kanipe in Corpus Christi, Texas. Cal's service as an aviator in the United States Marine Corps during World War II was perhaps the most significant experience of his life, though he didn't often speak of it. After serving as a flight instructor in Texas, he was called up to join Marine Fighting Squadron 441 in the Pacific. Cal flew as a bomber escort and provided close troop support at Okinawa, shooting down three Japanese Zeroes. He was recognized for "heroism or extraordinary achievement" while serving as a pilot with the Distinguished Flying Cross and also received the Air Medal with three gold stars. Following the war, he became a Certified Public Accountant and joined "big five" accounting firm Arthur Anderson in Houston. He transferred to Denver, where he was in charge of the tax office for 25 years and became a partner in the firm. Cal served as a mentor for many young professionals during his career. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Robert M. and Amy Bennett of Lafayette; four grandchildren, Scott Stedman, Heather Johnson, Joshua Bennett and Aaron Bennett; and six great-grandchildren, Nathan Stedman, Brandon Steffan, Alex Steffan, Olivia Stedman, Riley Steffan and Atticus Bennett. He was preceded in death by his wife, Alice Bennett, and his daughter, Kerrie Bennett, who was his caregiver. Memorial contributions may be made to TRU Community Care, trucare.org or 2594 Trailridge Drive East, Lafayette, CO 80026 or the Wounded Warrior Project, woundedwarriorproject.org or P. O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.