- Date Of Birth: November 15, 1919
- Date Of Death: December 6, 2007
- State: Florida
Retired Colonel Bentley Hill Harris, Jr., age 88, died at home on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2007. He was born on Nov. 15, 1919 in Waco, Texas.
Bentley was a true believer in higher education. He served his country with pride, dignity and love. He was a great man, one of a kind and will be missed but never forgotten.
Bentley began his military career as a flying cadet, receiving his wings at Kelly Field in 1941.
For the next few years he was the Air Force Commander of contract flying schools in Cuero, Lamesa and Unvalde, Texas.
Bentley managed his own construction company during a brief post-war stint in civilian life. He accepted a regular commission in 1947, serving at Headquarters USAF before going on to NYU under the Air Force’s Institute of Technology.
Bentley was a member of the American Rocket Society, a Technical Member of the Institute of Aeronautical Sciences and after a NASA assignment he graduated from the National War College in 1961.
Bentley retired from the Air Force in 1967 and deciding to return to Fort Walton Beach did not take a second thought. During his tour at Eglin, he fell in love with the area so he and his wife Bettye, built their dream home in 1971. After leaving the Air Force he went directly to work at Honeywell Inc.
In Bentley’s early years his passions were his wife, career and flying…but not in helicopters!
He became a runner during the 80’s and was considering running in a marathon until he was side lined by a knee injury.
In his later years, his passions shifted to shopping at the commissary on Saturday mornings, eating poached eggs at the Breakfast Place on Sunday and, of course, as always, his wife.
Survivors include his “ever-lovin” wife of 66 years, Bettye, daughter Shelley, granddaughter Stacey and their husbands. He also leaves behind Sugah II, his beloved dachshund.
