John Conroy Bennett

John Conroy Bennett , known as Buddy to family and friends, died peacefully at home on October 21, 2012. The son of Thomas W. Bennett, and Mary Conroy Bennett, he was born January 29, 1921. A life-long resident of Charleston, Buddy was educated at Craft School and Porter Military Academy. He attended Clemson College and interrupted his education to train at Roosevelt Aviation School on Long Island before joining the Army and serving with the 20th Division Army Air Corps in the Pacific. He retired from Liberty Life Insurance Company at age 55 to pursue his life's work of hunting and fishing full time. While he never saw himself as an educator, his family and friends benefitted from his wisdom and knowledge of the Carolina Lowcountry - where the best fishing and shrimping spots were and how to enjoy them and how to say the day was a success whether you brought home anything or not. He taught his children to laugh at life's lessons and at themselves and to profit by their experiences. Buddy taught that riches lay not in money, but in friends and that laughter and a good sense of humor can get you through anything. You still had to be on time, no matter what, because he believed that punctuality was a sign of success. He had many memberships and associations throughout his 91 years, the most important being his 67 year membership in the Hibernian Society. As one of the longest and oldest members of the Society, as his companions often heard him say, 'birds don't fly on one wing' and 'no drink exists with too much whiskey in it.' He is survived by his children, Sharon Bennett (Billy Want), Mary Bennett and Shawn Bennett; four grandchildren, Jennifer Bennett, Shawn Bennett, Jr., William Want and Emily Bennett, all of Charleston and his best friend and life-long companion, Annabelle Creech of Atlanta. At his request, services and internment will be private. Contributions in his memory can be made to the Hibernian Society Elevator Fund, PO Box 134, Charleston, SC 29402, something he was thrilled to see finally coming to fruition. There will be an old-fashioned Irish wake to celebrate Buddy's life at Hibernian Hall, 105 Meeting St. on Thursday, October 25, 2012, between 5:00 and 7:00 PM. Please wear something green for Buddy.