Gerald “Garth” Bennett Jr, 81, passed away on Monday February 6, 2023. Garth was a beloved father, grandfather and friend. He will be greatly missed by his surviving family; his children, Jack Bennett and Debbie Gordon, his 8 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren, and his sister, Joan Taylor. We are grateful he’s reunited with his late wife Joanne Catherine, and his daughter Mary Grace. Garth was born in Ogden, Utah on October 23, 1941 to Gerald Garth Bennett Sr and Juanita Nielsen . He was the oldest of 2 children. His sister Joan was born 5 years later. His family moved to Santa Monica when he was 7. Growing up he loved to go to the 15 cent Matinee on Saturdays and see a western. He loved sports and played baseball, football, basketball and kickball. He also loved dogs, and talked his mom into getting a collie when he was 4 years old, then a boxer when he was in high school. Garth loved cars and worked and saved for his first car long before he was 16. When he was 15 he had saved 1600 dollars and bought his first car, a Chevy Bel Air, it was 2 years old and yellow. This began his lifelong love of cars, car shows, and leisurely drives.Garth also loved to travel. His sophomore year in college he sold his Austen Healy so he could go to Europe for 3 months with his professor and a group of students. He toured over a dozen countries and islands and remembered them well.Garth graduated Palo Alto High School in 1959, Menlo College in 1963 with a degree in Business Administration, and then received his MBA from San Jose State College in 1968. Garth loved his college years. He lived primarily in the Bay Area until he was in his 50’s, and then moved to Arizona. He did investment work and was a business owner. Garth married Joanne Catherine O’Keefe on January 31, 1974 in the Oakland Temple. They met serving as single adult representatives for their church. Part of their courtship were long conversations for hours on the phone. She lived in Redwood City and he lived in Foster City. They had the same goals, and he loved her and her girls. They were sealed as a family that same day in the temple. He was impressed with her dedication to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was a convert and had joined 2 years earlier. She was a single mom with 2 daughters, Mary and Debbie. Jack would be born 11 months later in 1974. They were married 24 years before Joanne passed away from cancer. Garth will be remembered for his devotion to his family, his optimism (even in the face of challenges and physical suffering), his friendly nature, and his strong faith in Christ – which he wasn’t shy about sharing. His passion and focus were his family, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He phoned his grandkids every week, it’s how he connected with them as many lived out of town. He was Jack and Debbie’s biggest cheerleader. He talked to them almost every day. He made sure we all were involved in each other’s lives and kept us connected. He showed us unconditional love. We love and miss him and look forward to a grand reunion with him in Heaven.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday February 25th at 10am at the LDS Church located at 4629 E. Guadalupe Rd, Gilbert, AZ 85234. There will be a visiting line before the service from 9:00-9:45 for any who would like to attend.