Eloise Ruth Bennett

Eloise Ruth (Hanson) Bennett, age 94, passed away peacefully on February 14, 2026, in Ottawa, Kansas. She was born on May 2, 1931, in Peoria, Illinois, to Frank Paul Hanson and Eva Ruth (Handy) Hanson.

On August 15, 1953, she married Francis William “Fran” Bennett of Franklin County, Kansas. Together they shared more than six decades of marriage, raising four sons and building a life defined by faith, education, global service, and commitment to community.

During the early years of their marriage, Eloise joined her husband in international service through the U.S. Department of State, living in North India and later supporting work across South India, Sri Lanka, and East Africa. These years were marked by agricultural, educational, and community-development efforts that contributed to what became known as the Green Revolution, reflecting a shared lifelong dedication to improving opportunity and quality of life for others.

Eloise herself was deeply devoted to education. She pursued scientific study and earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in 1953 (Northwestern University). Her passion for learning and children’s education led her to help found the Bangalore International School in Bengaluru, India, creating an enduring legacy that continues to serve families from around the world. Back home in Kansas, she was instrumental in the creation of the Williamsburg Community Library, reflecting her lifelong belief in literacy, curiosity, and access to knowledge.

She made her home in Williamsburg, Kansas, where she remained rooted in family, church, and community life for many decades. She was a dedicated follower of Jesus Christ and an active member of the Williamsburg United Methodist Church.

Eloise was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Fran, in 2019 after 65 years of marriage and by her parents and siblings, Dorothy (Hanson) Leber, Edwin Hanson and John Hanson.

She is survived by her four sons: Gregory Stephen Bennett and wife Michelle (Loewen) Bennett, Randall William Bennett and wife Helen (Reynolds) Bennett, Roderick Paul Bennett and wife Catherine (Collins) Bennett, Stanley Harold Bennett and wife Christy (Harder) Bennett. She was a devoted grandmother to 10 grandchildren and great-grandmother to 10 great-grandchildren.

Eloise will be remembered for her intellect, quiet strength, global perspective, and steadfast devotion to faith, family, and education. From rural Kansas to communities around the world, her life reflected compassion in action and a deep belief in the power of learning to transform lives. Her influence endures in the institutions she helped build, the family she loved, and the many lives touched by her example.

A Celebration of Life for Eloise will take place on May 2, 2026 at 2:00 pm at the Williamsburg Community Center, 126 West William, Williamsburg, KS.

The family suggests memorial contributions to Williamsburg Community Library c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067.

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