Reginald Gillespie Bennett

Reginald Gillespie Bennett was born Monday, June 26, 1939, in Los Angeles, California, to Alexander David Bennett and Merna Tibbets Bennett. His mother was a well-known silentmovie actress who performed under the stage name Francis Lee.

Reg, as his friends called him, joined the U.S. Navy in 1957 while still a senior in high school. Upon graduation, he left for basic training and served in Pearl Harbor aboard the USS Wilhoit as a helmsman responsible for steering and maintaining the course of the 306' destroyer escort.

He graduated from UCLA in 1965 with a degree in economics and was a member of the Sigma Nu Fraternity. After graduation, his first job was with the Central Intelligence Agency, where he worked in human resources conducting background checks for potential new hires.

He learned to parachute at St. Michael’s Angels, where his jump master was Sandra Brooks. Two years later, they married and raised three children. Reg retired from parachuting in 1977 after a double malfunction nearly cost him his life; by then, he had completed 384 jumps.

In addition to the CIA, Reg held management roles at the Teamsters Union, American Airlines, and Johnson & Johnson before eventually retiring from Kerr McGee as Plant Manager of Administration at the Wynnewood Refinery.

After retirement, he discovered a love of motorcycles. He visited Sturgis four times, rode to California, and once rode with Brian “Boz” Bosworth. He often said there was little more exciting in life than having the wind blow through your hair.

He became a certified scuba diver during a visit to the Republic of Palau in 1999. In addition to diving Palau, he dove WWII wrecks dives in Chuuk and in Papua New Guinea; in Indonesia, from Bali to the coast of Komodo Island; in California and Catalina Island; and in Belize and Costa Rica. He logged his 500th dive in Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia.

He was devoted to his faith, Christian Science. He served as First Reader five times and twice as Second Reader for a total of twenty one years. He said the amount of preparation and research helped him better understand his faith and himself—and it was what he was most proud of.

Reg passed peacefully, surrounded by family, on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at 4:51 p.m. He is survived by his children, Taralin Tho Khamthanphala, Brooks David Bennett, and Reginald Wesley Bennett; his former wife, Sandra Lee Williams and friend, Gene Williams; two nephews; and ten grandchildren.

Cremation Arrangements have been entrusted to Oklahoma Cremation Centers. Family and friends may leave condolences and kind words of comfort at https://www.oklahomacremationcenters.com/obituaries