Rodney Lee Bennett, Sr.

Rodney Lee Bennett, Sr., of Thornton, unexpectedly passed away at home on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at age 66.

Visitation at First Baptist Church in Kosse will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 26, 2026.

Funeral services will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 26, 2026, at the First Baptist Church of Kosse, with Rev. Matt Homer officiating. Burial will follow in Thornton City Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Grayson Marsinko, Hayden Mills, Cody Mills, Nicholas Bennett, Dylan Bennett, Norman Mills, Milo Gonzalez, and Isaac Gonzalez.

Rodney was born October 9, 1959, in Midland to Lynn J. Bennett, Jr. and Mamie (Ross) Greathouse. Although the family lived in various towns while he was young, he was living in Uvalde while in high school.

As a teenager, in high school, Rodney met Carolyn Johnston, and they married as young teens on February 28, 1979, in Austin, TX. He worked in the oil fields, and while they were living in Giddings, a son was born, and then while living in Austin, a daughter was born.

Another daughter was born in Groesbeck and two more daughters born in Mexia after the family moved to Thornton 44 years ago. Rodney worked for U. S. Silica Sand at Thornton as a mill operator and shift foreman for 42 years, and was ready to retire when the plant at Thornton closed.

Rodney was a man who enjoyed simple things. He began collecting arrowheads, after finding his first one fifteen years after he had been working at the Silica site. He enjoyed collecting scrappy metal to recycle and searching for his fortune in scratch-offs. Since he had pretty good luck, he always wanted to keep looking for that final good luck ticket. Rodney also enjoyed carpentry work and helping other people.

Rodney loved his large family of kids, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He and Carolyn kept many of them while their parents worked, and helped raise 3 of them, and were in the process of adopting one.

Rodney was preceded in death by his father, Lynn J. Bennett Jr. and his mother, Mamie Ross Greathouse; brothers, Richard Lynn Bennett and Donnie Bennett; and a sister, Elizabeth Ruth Bennett.

He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Carolyn Bennett and their 5 children and their spouses, and his grandchildren and great grandchildren:

son and daughter-in-law, Rodney Lee Bennett, Jr. and Jerusha Bennett of North Dakota, and their children, Nicholas Bennett, Dylan Bennett and Jedidiah Bennett;

daughter, Karen Marie Bennett of Channelview and her children, Grayson Marsinko, Gracie Marsinko and Daniella Bennett;

daughter and son-in-law, Catherine Anne Gonzalez and Milo Gonzalez of Spring and their children, Alexis Castro, Chloe Miller, Gabriella Gonzalez and Isaac Gonzalez;

daughter and son-in-law, Rebecca Lynne Mills and Norman Mills of Kosse, and their children, Hayden Mills, Cody Mills, Cheyenne Curton, Bailey Mills and Zayne Mills, and grandchildren, Laynee Mills and Miles Miller;

daughter, Kenna Kaye Bennett of Thornton, and great grandchild, Emersyn Bennett.

He is also survived by a brother, John Ross Bennett and his wife, Sharon Bennett of Australia; and many nieces and nephews.