Local Doctor for 35 Years, Former Football Player at WVU, Veteran, Dr. Charles "Chick" Bennett, Passes
By Connect-Bridgeport Staff on January 09, 2026
Dr. Charles E. “Chick” Bennett of Grafton, West Virginia passed away December 26, 2025, at the age of ninety-three. Chick was born in Grafton, on December 14, 1932, the son of the late Charles and Evna Bennett.
He graduated with the GHS class of 1951. He was an honor student and athlete who went on to play football at WVU for the Hall of Fame 
coach Art “Pappy” Lewis. After graduating from WVU he entered the Air Force and became a pilot. In the Air Force, and with rank of Captain, Chick had the honor of flying T33’s jets.
coach Art “Pappy” Lewis. After graduating from WVU he entered the Air Force and became a pilot. In the Air Force, and with rank of Captain, Chick had the honor of flying T33’s jets.
In 1954, he married his “high school sweetheart”, Martha Kemple Bennett. The two spent the next four years residing at U.S. Air Force bases.
In 1958, the couple returned to Grafton from the Air Force. Chick enrolled in the WVU School of Dentistry. He graduated in 1962. He opened his dental practice in Grafton where he served the people of Taylor County for 35 years, never missing a day of work.
He dedicated his service to the community for over fifty years. He served on the Taylor County Board of Education for twenty-three years, State Board of Health, City Council, Jaycees, and the Taylor County Shrine Clown Unit. Chick was a loyal Mountaineer and a huge Bearcat fan. On Friday nights you could find him at the GHS football games, an avid participant in the press box.
After retiring, he and Martha became snowbirds escaping to Florida from the cold winters of WV. In Florida, Chick studied art, focusing on watercolors. Much of his artwork is adorned in the homes of his children and grandchildren. He was also an avid golfer.
Chick could be found in his garage tinkering with a variety of projects. His children called him the original “MacGyver”. With a piece of duct tape and a nail, he could fix anything.
Most importantly, his children say, “He was a patient, loving, and humble man”. His patience was most evident during those summer days on Tygart Lake, spending hours teaching family and many of their friends to waterski.
His perennial hum and whistle was a fond part of his legacy and will be greatly missed. May his memory be a blessing.
He is survived by the love of his life of seventy-one years, Martha, and his four children, Sharle, (Tim), Shelby, (Ed), Chuck, (Jill) and Chad (Trish), his eight grandchildren; Matt (Heidi), Julie (Doug), Kambrie (Justin), Nickolas (Kaylynn), Jacob (Kelsey), Zachary (Hannah), Luke, Cate (Mason), nine great-grandchildren; Will, Bennett, Harper, Addie, Linden, Erza, Graham, Scottie, Beau and sister-in-law, Pam. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his younger brothers, Don, Roger and sister-in-law, Shirley.
The family would like to thank the Taylor County Health Care Center, for the loving care and respect they have showed him for the past three years. In addition, many thanks to the Amedisys Hospice personnel.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Chick’s memory to the Mother’s Day Shrine @ P.O. Box 513, Grafton, WV 26354. Or the Haiti’s Children’s Fund. Checks can be sent to Friends of Fort Liberte, First Baptist Church of Grafton % Fort Liberte P.O. Box 116 Grafton, WV 26354.
Family and Friends are invited to gather for visitation at Donald G. Ford Funeral Home 950 George Washington Hwy, Grafton, WV 26354 on Saturday, January 31, 2026 from 10am until the funeral service time at 2pm with his grandson Jacob Bennett presiding. Inurnment with full military honors will be held at a later date to be announced at the WV National Cemetery. Online condolences, www.donaldgfordfuneralhome.com The Donald G. Ford Funeral Home is honored to serve the Bennett Family during their time of need.
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