Bennie Leo Maness

Bennie Leo Maness was born December 12, 1925, and grew up in the Great Depression, which would shape his life as so many around him. He passed away peacefully with family surrounding him and was promoted to Glory on March 20th, where he joined his wife, Betty. He served during WWII as an Electrician Mechanic in the engine rooms of the USS Indiana battleship, from the battle of the Philippine Sea to Tokyo Harbor the day after the surrender ceremony. In between were two major typhoons, battles for numerous island chains, including Iwo Jima, and Okinawa, and preparations for a land invasion of Japan. After the surrender, his ship took 900 prisoners of war and returned them to America, he and his fellow crew members often giving their own sleeping quarters away to the former POWs. His father decided that working on the newfangled automobile would be a good plan, so Ben grew up working as an auto mechanic with his father for car dealerships and garages across Little Rock. His father and future father-in-law ran gas stations and repair shops that he grew up with and worked in. He managed the Round Top gas station just prior to the interstate system bypassing it. He worked as an Industrial Supply salesman for 33 years for Mill & Mine Supply. He serviced many corporate manufacturing clients and loved to share his latest joke with them. He attended LR Junior College School of Law (now Bowen), earning a Juris Doctorate degree. He was a member of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Big Rock Masonic Lodge and First Christian Church of Sherwood. He provided safe spaces for many of his grandchildren and kept their cars going at the bargain price of free! He loved his family, and is survived by daughter, Donna Rountree (Greg); five grandchildren, Mysti Drinkwater (Drew), Dever Norman, Caleb Rountree (Laura), Alesha Martin (Steve), Mary Polk (Scot); 12 great-grandchildren, James Norman (Caeley), Olivia and Natalie Norman, Ben, Wyatt, and Jordanne Drinkwater, Hollis Patrick, William and Max Polk, Sydney and Caleb Martin. The family would like to thank his friends at Hardees, with special thanks to Ron Taylor and John Parker, and his friends at VFW post 9095, with special thanks to Ronnie and Rose Curtis and Chris Parents, and thanks to the wonderful people at Hospice Home Care, especially Ashley and Suzette, for their devoted care. Memorial service will be held Saturday, March 23rd, at 2:00 at First Christian Church on Kiehl Ave in Sherwood. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to First Christian Church Sherwood, the VFW 9095, or any veterans support organization. Online guestbook and bbituary: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/owens