William A. Bennis

WILLIAM ARTHUR BENNIS Beloved Husband, Father, Grandfather, Brother, and Friend William A. "Bill" Bennis passed away peacefully at his home in Cranford with his loving family on Tuesday November 2, 2010 at the age of 81. Visitation will be 7-9 PM Thursday November 4, 2010 at Gray Funeral Home, 318 E. Broad Street, Westfield (www.grayfuneralhomes.com to sign guest book). Funeral services will begin at 10:00AM Friday November 5, 2010, in St. Paul's Episcopal Church 414 E. Broad St, Westfield. Interment will follow in Graceland Memorial Park, Kenilworth. A lifelong resident of Cranford, NJ, William was born in West Orange, NJ and graduated from Cranford High School in 1947, where he was a renowned basketball star. He graduated from Union County College while advancing his impressive career at ASARCO, Inc., New York, NY, from mail clerk to Vice President of Purchasing, Logistics, Traffic, and Administration. After his retirement as a highly respected business executive in 1990, he developed a landscaping and nursery container business, The Davis Nursery, in Edmeston, NY along with his son, William M. Bennis. Mr. Bennis was a former vestryman and warden of Trinity Church, Cranford, NJ. Willaim is survived by and will be deeply missed by his loving wife, Lois Jean (nee Herman), with whom he celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary in August, 2010. A devoted father of four and grandfather of eleven, William gave his all every day of his life to making his family and friends happy. He will be extremely missed by his children: Susan Bennis Ward and her husband Joseph, and their seven children; Mary Ellen Bennis; Joanne Bennis Hudak and her husband, Robert, and their two children; and William M. Bennis and his wife, Kelly, and their two children. Also surviving is his beloved sister, Jeanne Meier of Cranford. His numerous nieces and nephews along wih his very dear lifelong friends will mourn his passing. William was predeceased by his loving parents, William E. and Catherine A. Bennis, formerly of Cranford.