Chad Eric Bennett

Jesus brought his son Chad Eric Bennett, 47, of Kingsburg to his heavenly home on Friday, March 17, 2023. He was born on March 26, 1975 in Stockton, CA, to loving parents Bill and Dianne Bennett and older brother Corbin. When Chad was 2, the family moved to Kingsburg, CA, where he remained until his passing. From a young age, Chad grew up in the Evangelical Free Church (now known as the Orchard) writing the Word on his heart through Awana and Sunday School. Growing up, he excelled in the classroom, on the basketball court, and on the baseball field. He graduated as a valedictorian with the Class of 1993 from Kingsburg High School. After high school, Chad attended Fresno State where he met his bride Heather (Goehring) Bennett in the summer of 1995 at a Bible study. The pair hit it off quickly, becoming engaged the following March on Chad's 21st birthday. Chad and Heather were married on June 7, 1997, surrounded by God, family, and friends. Later that year, Chad graduated from Fresno State with a Bachelor's Degree of Science in Mechanical Engineering. The newlyweds were soon involved in the Kingsburg Church of the Nazarene, and in 1998, Chad started his engineering career at Upright in Selma, CA. In 2001, he joined SunMaid Growers Inc as the Director of Engineering, where he worked for the next 8 years. His eldest, Claire Elizabeth, was born on January 4, 2002. Joshua Eric quickly followed on July 17, 2003, and Paige Kathleen completed the family of five on August 27, 2007. In 2009, with God's guidance, Chad left engineering to pursue a major career change. He attended night classes at Brandman University and began teaching 8th-grade science at Rafer Johnson Junior High School, where he would remain for the duration of his teaching career. Chad continued teaching science up to weeks before his passing. As an educator, Chad received many awards, including Teacher of the Year in 2020. A brick on the Teachers and Friends of Education honor wall at Fresno State is inscribed with "Chad Bennett, Teacher of the Heart." Chad had a curiosity that translated into his vast knowledge of just about anything and everything. He was a member of the Kings River Golf & Country Club, often playing with his buddies and his son. A Viking at heart, he frequented KHS sports events as a supportive father and former teacher of many of the players. He coached youth sports extensively, including baseball, basketball, golf, and soccer teams. Chad was a vital part of the Orchard for many years, serving as an elder on the board and as the Awana co-commander with his wife. Three months before his diagnosis in 2017, the family felt the Lord calling them to the Evangelical Covenant Church of Kingsburg, where his children were involved in the youth ministry. Both Heather and Chad found community in life groups and Bible studies; the people they met in these groups were soon friends and are now family. Chad beat the odds against his 12 month-prognosis five times over, teaching full-time throughout radiation, chemotherapy, and four brain surgeries. Over the course of his life and throughout his battle with cancer, he exemplified the power of faith to all he encountered, both in word and action. Chad has now made it to glory and his life's legacy lives on through all the hearts he touched and taught. Chad is survived by his wife Heather, his three children, Claire, Josh, and Paige, parents Bill and Dianne Bennett, and brother and sister-in-law Corbin and Mitra Bennett and his nieces Vienne and Giselle. He is also survived by his grandmother Mary Jane Lawler, his in-laws Fred and Kathy Goehring, and his brother- and sister-in-law Karl and Kirsten Goehring, and his niece Kaileigh and nephew Karsten. All are welcome as we celebrate Chad's life on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at 2 in the afternoon at the Kingsburg High School Gymnasium. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to his charity of choice, the Kingsburg Community Assistance Programs and Services or the Kingsburg Covenant Church Building Fund in his name

Chad Eric Bennett

March 26, 1975 - March 17, 2023