Sally Louise Bennett

Sally Louise Carter Bennett, 81, of Carlisle, died Thursday, June 14, 2012, at Carlisle Regional Medical Center, with family at her side.
Born on December 4, 1930 in Toledo, Ohio to the late Wayne and Julia (Neptune) Carter, Sally spent her childhood primarily in Toledo; Houston, TX; and Tulsa, OK. By the time she graduated from Toledo’s Devilbiss High School in 1948, she had already met the love of her life, Peter Hayden Bennett, to whom she would have been married for 60 years this summer. They wed in Toledo on August 16, 1952.
Pete’s career in telecommunications took the family all over the world, with a number of years spent living in Galion, OH; San Juan, PR; Short Hills NJ; and Columbia, MD. Always intellectually curious and a voracious reader, Sally was a life-long learner in the truest sense. Academically and professionally she was a late bloomer, but she made up for any lost time with a vengeance, receiving her first degree – an Associate’s – in 1978, followed by a Bachelor's in 1980 and a Master’s in 1984. After attaining her graduate degree at the age of 53, Sally was hired to teach Art History – her passion – as an adjunct professor at University of Maryland Baltimore County, where she taught from 1984 to 1996.
In 1997, soon after Pete retired, the Bennetts moved to Carlisle, in large part to be near one of their three daughters and their only grandchild. Sally soon tired of “retirementâ€Â and accepted a part-time adjunct Art History teaching position at Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) late in 1997. She continued to work at HACC, teaching at least one course per semester, until 2009, delivering her last formal art history lecture in 2009, at the age of 78.
Sally loved reading (especially – of late – on her beloved iPad), teaching, and spending time with her family. She was an early and avid user of digital technology, and especially enjoyed photographing with her DSLR. Her passion for history, art, and adventure led her to travel extensively overseas, including multiple trips to Florence, Italy and Paris, France, as well as journeys to China, Sweden, and Belgium. She was an outspoken and enthusiastic supporter of progressive politics, a lover of “Lost Generationâ€Â literature, a lifelong fan of jazz music, and a doting “motherâ€Â to many dogs over the years. She was also a longtime, committed member of the League of Women Voters, and was a founding member of that organization’s chapter in Puerto Rico.
In addition to her husband, Sally is survived by three daughters, Barbara Houston (and her husband Christopher) of Carlisle; Kimberly Bennett (and her fiance Richard Urda, and his children Daniel and Rebecca) of Ithaca, NY; and Caroline Bennett of Baltimore, MD; one grand-daughter, Alexandra Houston, of Chicago, IL; one sister, Judith Couture of Toledo; several nieces and nephews; and her beloved dogs Abby and Zeke.
A memorial service is planned for later this summer. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Carlisle Area Dog Parks Association, which recently opened Carlisle’s first dog park. Donations may be sent to: CADPA, Box 1016, Carlisle, PA 17013.
Hoffman-Roth Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc., 219 North Hanover Street, Carlisle is in charge of the funeral arrangements.
To sign the guest book visit www.hoffmanroth.com.