Merrill Jean Bennett, 79, of Portland, Indiana, passed away April 8, 2015 at Willowbend Living Center in Muncie. The son of Edward Patrick and Reba Arizona Yoder Bennett, Merrill was born June 13, 1935 in Martinsville, Indiana.

Merrill served in the U.S. Air Force. He retired as a tool and die maker from Chevy Truck & Bus. Merrill was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Dunkirk, Indiana; was a member of the Corvair Club; bowled on several bowling leagues and at one time, held his pilot's license.

Merrill is survived by his wife, Beverly Hutchens Bennett of Portland; son, Patrick (Genesia) Bennett of Lynchburg, VA; daughters, Debbie (Roger) Clendening of Paoli, Cindy (Darrell) Collier of Jamestown, TN and Dana (Bruce) Swafford of Gosport; brother, Robert Bennett of Petersburg; eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Tawna Suzzett Bennett; brother, Virgil Bennett and sisters, Dorothy Schoolcraft, Florence Fish, Shirley Roe and Thelma Bennett.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. April 11, 2015 at Forest Lawn Memory Gardens - 1977 South State Road 135 Greenwood, Indiana. There will be no public visitation.