Swanson Leon Bennett

Swanson Leon Bennett passed away on July 21, 2023. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Nina E. Bennett of McMinnville, TN; daughter, Sandra (Bill) Greenwich of Prairieville, LA; son, Steve (Jamie) Bennett of Thompson Station, TN; grandchildren, Matt Greenwich, Erin (Dalis) Boyette, Abbey (Chris) Lanigan, Kirby Bennett and Will Bennett; great-grandchildren, Brody and Brynnley Boyette and Owen, Jack and Emmy Lanigan; brothers, Raymond Oscar (Bettye) Bennett of Lenior City, TN and Olin (Nadine) Bennett of Cleveland, TN and sisters, Maurine Dement of Normandy, TN, Bernice Boring,  LaVerne (Jack) Easterly and Laura Jean Bennett, all of Cleveland, TN, Katherine (Steve) Gibson; Cleveland, TN and Brenda (Ron) Medlin of Nashville, TN . Born July 8, 1931 to Andrew Franklin and Clara Renner Bennett in Cleveland, TN, Swanson was number two of thirteen children. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brother, Andrew Franklin Bennett, Jr. and sisters, Geraldine Bennett Dement, Colleen Bennett and Billie Lou Bennett Wooten. 

Swanson Bennett is devoted to his God and his church. He and Nina have been a vital part of the First Baptist Church of McMinnville since coming to Warren County. Swanson Bennett was ordained as a deacon in 1966 and has served as chairman on the board of deacons on four different occasions. Professionally, he was a member of Highland Rim Association of Life Underwriters, the Tennessee Association of Life Underwriters and the National Association for over thirty years, serving as secretary, treasurer and board member. He was a trustee and treasurer of Camp Woodlee for twenty-two years. A member of the McMinnville Jaycees for a number of years, he served as secretary of the club as well as a board member. An active member of the Warren County Chamber of Commerce since coming to McMinnville, he has served on several committees over the year and was president of the organization in 1966. He received service awards from the Warren County Council of Community Improvement Clubs; the Warren County Fire Chiefs’ Association; the Warren County 4-H Club, who presented him with the Sponsors Award and the FFA Sponsors Award. The county as a whole has also been cognizant of Swanson Bennett’s contributions to our advancement. The McMinnville Exchange Club honored him with it’s Book of Golden Deeds award in 1990 and in 1993 – Warren County Chamber of Commerce named him it’s Distinguished Citizen of the Year.

Since coming to Warren County in 1963, Swanson Bennett was heavily involved in the betterment of our community as agency manager of the Warren County Farm Bureau until his retirement 30 years later. During his tenure Mr. Bennett increased the membership of the Warren County Farm Bureau from 40 to 5000 members. He always wanted to make sure he could accommodate farmers without interrupting their work day and made many, many visits to their farms at night to make sure they had proper insurance coverage. His work with the community clubs of our county and his organizational and administrative assistance in the development of a county-wide fire protection system brought great and much needed benefits to our people living in the rural areas of our county. Although a full-time employee of the Warren County Farm Bureau which is focused toward the farmer, he went beyond the limits demanded of him and unselfishly gave of his talents and spare time to enable those living beyond the normal benefits provided by “city life” to have many of these same luxuries. Assistance in extending water lines and organization and administration of the rural fire departments coupled with acquisition of the necessary fire-fighting equipment, aid in various award programs of the rural organizations, and sound advice in many, many ways on various rural projects earned for this man a deep appreciation from those who knew and worked with him.   

Funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 25, 2023 in High’s Chapel with Stan Gibson, David Moore and Todd Bennett officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. View Cemetery in McMinnville, TN. Visitation will be Monday from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at High Funeral Home. There will be no visitation on Tuesday prior to the service.

Donations may be made to Gideons International or Southern Baptist Missions. 

Online condolences may be made at www.highfunerlahome.com.

High Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.