Kern County CA Archives Obituaries.....Bennett, Ertron R. February 12, 2006
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The Bakersfield Californian
Bennett, Ertron R. "Papa"    
 
Ertron R. Bennett (Papa) 
Aug. 28, 1917 - Feb. 12, 2006 

Ertron Randolph Bennett passed onto a new life on February 12, 2006, at the 
age of 88. Known to many as Randy or simply, Mr. Bennett, Ertron was born on 
August 28, 1917, in Cottage Grove, Tennessee to the union of Ethel and 
Anderson Bennett. He fulfilled his spiritual need at an early age by accepting 
Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. He spent his early years attending grade 
school in Cottage Grove and later attended high school in Paris, Tennessee. 
Ertron left home at an early age seeking better opportunities than what 
African Americans were faced with in the segregated south. He eventually 
settled in Los Angeles, California where he was employed as a light truck 
driver and also as a chauffeur. In September of 1942, at the age of 25, Ertron 
was drafted by the United States Army and began his active duty on October 13, 
1942. He would spend more than two years on active duty during World War II 
including 9 months of Foreign Service in Italy. While on active duty in Italy, 
he was promoted to Sergeant and was in charge of a mortar squad. He was 
wounded by shrapnel during combat and was later awarded the Purple Heart. 
After his Honorable Discharge from the military in 1945, Ertron returned to 
Los Angeles and enrolled in barber college. Upon finishing barber college and 
after working in the Los Angeles area for a short time, Ertron moved to 
Bakersfield, California in 1947 and would eventually open his own barbering 
business, the Lakeview Barber Shop. Ertron owned and operated the Lakeview 
Barber Shop for more than fifty years until he retired in October of 2000, at 
the age of 83. A venerable figure in the Bakersfield community, Mr. Bennett is 
known for having mentored many, and for touching the lives of thousands of 
men, young and old, who had the distinct pleasure of sitting in his barber 
chair. Ertron enjoyed life to its fullest and took great pleasure in growing 
his own vegetables, taking long drives and visiting new places, studying 
business concepts as well as historical facts, and of course, spending time 
with his numerous family members and friends. Ertron was preceded in death by 
his parents, Ethel and Anderson Bennett; brothers, Jessie and Odis Bennett; 
sisters, Lorraine Bennett and Minnie Mae House; his first wife, Vanessa McGee 
Bennett; his second wife, Delores Mays Bennett; and a stepson, Toledo McGee. 
He leaves to mourn, one brother, Leander Bennett (Ora Bennett) of Detroit, 
Michigan; one son, Kervin Bennett (Sherry Bennett) of Bakersfield, California; 
six stepchildren, Sandra Mays Billingsly (Donell Billingsly), Ronald Mays 
(Mayumi Mays), Gregory Mays, and Joel Mays (Carrie Mays) of Bakersfield, 
California, Judy Mays (Donald Miller) of Roseville, California, and Martin 
Mays of Corcoran, California; three granddaughters, Tiffany Bennett of Los 
Angeles, California, Brittany and Whittany Bennett of Bakersfield, California; 
nine stepgrandsons, Gary McGee (Debra McGee), and Ertron Rickey McGee of 
Bakersfield, California, Toledo McGee, Jr. of Soledad, California, Gregory 
Mays, Jr. of Sicklerville, New Jersey, Jerron Mays of Wasco, California, 
Rexland Miller of Roseville, California, and Dyson, Nathan and Brennan Mays of 
Bakersfield, California; six stepgranddaughters, Beverly Williams, Angela Mays 
and Leah Billingsly of Bakersfield, California, Brandi Tucker (Wendell Tucker) 
of Rancho Cordova, California, Cyntriece Mays of Sicklerville, New Jersey, 
Zenzele Manley (Mays) of Lakeport, California; four stepgreat-grandchildren, 
Janayia Fair, Leilah Moore, Jackson Tucker and Jacob Powell of Bakersfield, 
California; and a host of other relatives and friends. Ertron R. Bennett, Papa 
will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him. Funeral services are 
Saturday, February 18, 2006, at 11:00 a.m., at The Peoples Missionary Baptist 
Church, 1451 Madison Avenue. Pastor Josephate Jordan is eulogizing with 
interment to follow at Shafter Cemetery, Shafter, California. Visitation to 
start Friday, February 17, 2006, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. with an hour of 
meditation to be held from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., in the Chapel of Ruckers 
Mortuary. Ruckers Mortuary Family Owned & Operated 

Legacy.com
 
Published in the Bakersfield Californian on 2/17/2006.  


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Volunteer submission - No relation to deceased
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