Percival Robert Bennett, Former Fire Chief, Bryson City Fire Department

SWAIN COUNTY – Percival Robert Bennett, Jr., “Perby”, passed away at Mountain View Nursing Center in Bryson City, NC on December 27, 2011. Born February 15, 1915 in Baltimore, MD while his father was in
medical school at the University of Maryland, he lived in and loved Bryson City and Swain
County his whole life.

He was preceded in death by parents, Dr. and Mrs. P. R. Bennett, Sr., brother John MacDonald
Bennett, and wife, Evelyn “Tweedy” Bennett.

He is survived by a son, P. R. Bennett, III (wife Dianne) of Lenoir, NC, and a daughter, Olivia
Bennett Wood (husband Jackson) of West Lafayette, IN. He is also survived by 2 grandchildren,
P.R. Bennett, IV, Lake Toxaway, NC, and Kelly Edmond Bennett, II, Valdese, NC and five great
grandchildren: Ashley, Christopher, Gavin, Karrigan, and Kyndall.

He was a graduate of N C State Fire College-Drill School, and Hemphill Diesel Engineering
School in Memphis, TN. He also attended UNC at Chapel Hill. He served in the U.S. Army Air
Force-Airborne Engineers in World War II. He owned and operated Bennetts Motor Court in
Bryson City for 36 years.

Mr. Bennett was an active volunteer and leader in Western North Carolina, Swain County, and
Bryson City. He served 9 terms as Mayor of Bryson City, was a former Town Clerk and member
of Bryson City and Swain County Planning Board. He was a member of the Bryson City Fire
Department for 51 years and served as Fire Chief for the majority of those years. The Swain
County Fire Department building is named in his honor. He was President of the Western N C
Fireman’s Association, member of the Swain County School Board, and a member and Elder in
the Bryson City Presbyterian Church, Treasurer of the Southwestern Planning and Economic
Development Commission, and an Instructor in the N C Community College System.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at the Bryson City Presbyterian Church on January 7,
2012 at 11 AM. The family will receive guests at the church one hour prior to the service. The
burial will be private. The family requests in lieu of flowers that memorials be made to the Swain
County Fire Department or the Bryson City Presbyterian Church.