Bennie died October 31, 1999, in Midothian, Virginia. He was born on July 28, 1923, near Roanoke, VA. His father was a Postal Service employee and Bennie graduated from HS in Salem, Virginia, which is near Roanoke. He was a member of the Brethren Church and entered Civilian Public Service in May 1943.

Bennie served in two different CPS camps before volunteering for the smokejumper unit. He jumped had eight training and one practice jump in 1944 and four practice and three fire jumps in 1945.

When released from CPS in 1946, Bennie completed his advanced education, graduating about 1948 from Bridgeport University, Bridgeport, Virginia, which is a liberal arts college traditionally affiliated with the Church of Brethren. The 1947 yearbook describes him as a "fun lover" and having "a smile for everyone."

A 1948 city directory for Roanoke listed his employment as a Clerk for Dillard Paper Company. The company was, at the time, one of the biggest paper distributers in the country. In the early 1950s he moved to Knoxville, Tennessee. He is buried in Sherwood Burial Park, Salem, Virginia.