Joseph Edward Bennett, 68, of Alto Pass died Sunday, June 23, 2002, at Union County Hospital in Anna, Ill.

He was born Dec. 31, 1933, in Thebes, Ill., son of Joseph Even and Audrey Katherine Bedwell Bennett. He and Shirley I. Sheffer were married Nov. 14, 1952, in Dongola, Ill.

Joseph was a former multi-functional manager for Illinois Bell Telephone Co. in Cairo, Ill. He also had worked at WKRO Radio in Cairo and for the FCC.

He was a member and former deacon of Washington Avenue Baptist Church in Cairo. He was a former chairman of Southern Illinois Inc.; Hams for Christ Radio Association and published its newsletter.

He was a ham radio operator, active in Mara Repeater Association and the Gideons, and former president of Cairo Kiwanis Club and Cairo Chamber of Commerce.

Survivors include his wife; four sons, Stephen Bennett of Ooltewah, Tenn., Philip Bennett of Bartlett, Ill., Timothy Bennett of Waterloo, Ill., Michael Bennett of Lexington, S.C.; two sisters, Edna Caldwell of Murphysboro, Ill., Wanda McDaniel of Ava, Ill.; two brothers, Floyd Bennett of Murphysboro, David Bennett of Herrin, Ill.; 13 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a daughter.

Friends may call at Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home in Anna from 5 to 8 p.m. today.

Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, with the Revs. David Shull and Gilbert Gee officiating. Burial will be in Green Lawn Memorial Gardens in Villa Ridge, Ill.