Donald G. Bennett

Donald G. Bennett, 98, passed away Sunday, May 3, 2026 at The Gatehouse, Williamsport.

Born August 28, 1927 in Sunbury, he was a son of the late Walter R. and Irma (Rouch) Bennett. Donald married the former Joanne E. Drumm, and together they celebrated 74 years of marriage until her passing in October 2025.

Donald packed a lot of good living into his 98 years. Growing up in Sunbury, he made a lot of friends that remained close throughout their lives. He outlived his high school friends, but always had a way of drawing friends to him, all his life.

Donald graduated from Bucknell University, where he met his beloved, Joanne. He would hitchhike his way there from Sunbury. Afterwards, he spent two years in the US Army as a decoder, which was fitting because he always liked solving puzzles. Donald dedicated his professional life to managing the State Employment Office in Williamsport.

Donald and Joanne raised their family in South Williamsport and visited their cabin on Penns Creek every summer weekend. He had a love for that place since childhood. It was there that he instilled the love of the outdoors in his children. He liked to tie his own fishing flies and fish for trout. Donald could lay that line on the water as gracefully as a string of gossamer. He looked forward to floating down the Susquehanna, fishing for bass as well as pulling lots of Sunfish out of his neighbor’s pond.

Donald and Joanne bought their beloved farm in 1973 and spent fifty-plus years putting their love and hard work into that beautiful slice of heaven. He found euphoria each morning, stepping out onto the front porch to smell the fresh air. He and Joanne loved sitting on the porch, feeding the chipmunks sunflower seeds, often times right from their hands. It was here that Donald was able to explore his many interests that often involved the whole family: building furniture, working in his workshop, raising trout, growing gardens, tapping trees for maple syrup, raising bees, growing apple and chestnut trees, hunting, building muzzleloaders, cutting and splitting firewood, and filling the whole hillside with daffodils you could see outside the perfectly placed picture window. All of this helped build a strong bond of family love.

Donald had a gift for telling stories. He loved to share memories from his past, often repeating the same ones over and over again. Two of his favorite sayings were, “Don’t put too much torque on that” and “Rise above it all.”

He is survived by a son, Donald L. “Larry” Bennett; a daughter, Julie Ehrgood and her husband, Daniel; three grandchildren, Jennifer Bennett, Jonathan Bennett, and Weston Davis; and seven great-grandchildren, Addie, Kiefer, Loralie, Baya, Lila, Ramsey, and Brienna.

In addition to his parents and wife, Donald was preceded in death by a daughter-in-law, Tony Bennett, and two grandsons, Cody Davis and Joel Bennett.

In Donald’s final months, Hillside Assisted Living, Hospice, and The Gatehouse were shining lights in a dark time. The family is profoundly thankful for all their assistance.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Hughesville Funeral Home and Cremation Svc., Inc., 5069 Route 220 Highway, Hughesville. To share a memory or condolence with the family, please visit www.hughesvillefuneralhome.com.