Professor William Earl Bennett

BENNETT, YOUNG, KINDUR

Posted By: cathy (email)
Date: 9/9/2003 at 14:26:47

6-6-2003
Cedar Rapids Gazette

Professor William Earl Bennett, 79, of Iowa City, died Wednesday, June 4, 2003, in University Hospitals following treatment for cancer.

Dr. Bennett was born Dec. 29, 1923, in Eskridge, Kan. He had lived in several Kansas towns during his early years. He was the son of Earl Glass Bennett and Mary Helen Young Bennett. He graduated from Sterling High School in Sterling, Kan. He attended Sterling College in the same town for a year before enlisting in the Army where he served from 1943-46. He was a medical tecnician in the Medical Detachment, 43rd Tank Battalion and served in the Rhineland in Central Europe. He received the American Theater Ribbon, EAMET Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal and Victory Ribbon.

He returned to Sterling College, receiving a B.S. degree in chemistry. His doctoral research was in ammonia commplexes. In 1951, he was a research associate at the Institute of Nuclear Studies at the University of Chicago, where he met his future wife, Emily. He married Emily Kindur in Oak Park., Ill, on June 28, 1952. From 1952-1953, he was a research associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 1953, he accepted an appointment as assistant professor of inorganic chemistry at the University of Iowa, which brought him to Iowa City. He directed research and taught graduate and undergraduate courses at the university for 41 years. He began writing computer programs and used them in his work when this technology was yet in its early stages. Besides his articles for professional journals, he also published a labooratory manual for beginning chemistry students and wrote computer software to detect anomalies in test results. He was a member of the American Chemical Society, Research Club and University of Iowa Retirees Association. He retired as an emeritus professor in 1994.

During his years of retirement he enjoyed traveling, playing bridge, working with computers, doing genealogical research and visiting with friends. He also volunteered at the Iowa City Senior Center and Iowa City Public Library.

He was a man who was very kind and considerate and supportive to his friends and his students.

Visitation will be today from 4 to 8 p.m. at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service, in Iowa City. Burial with military honors, will be 10 a.m. Saturday, June 7, at Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Sterling College, Sterling Kan. American Cancer Society, 1(800) ACS 2345; or Iowa City Senior Center, Iowa City.

Condolences online may be sent to Dr. Bennett's family through the Web site, www.gayandciha.com.

Survivors include his wife, Emily, son, Dr. Scott William Bennett and his wife, Dr. Chinatsu Aone, of Oakton, Va.; and nephews, Dennis and Donald Bennett of Kansas.

He was precedee in death by his parents, and his two brothers, Robert and Charles.

Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service of Iowa City is caring for Dr. Bennett's family and his services.