From the Wasco News, Wasco, Kern County, California, 30 Jan 1964:
Pioneer Passes: Funeral Held Wednesday
Burial in the family plot in the Union cemetery in Bakersfield followed funeral services Wednesday at 1 p.m. in the robert L. Jones Funeral Home for Donald B. Bennett, who died on January 25 at the veterans hospital in Sawtelle.
The Rev. Raymond M. Squire of the First Methodist Church officiated. Mrs. Robert McConnell presided at the organ and Loran S. Grant sang two selections, "Shall We Gather at the River?" and "America."
Mr. Bennett, who never married, filled a number of roles in the community, which became his home in September of 1907. A deputy constable for a number of years, he served under three officers, Frank (Doc) Moore, Tom Jones and Joe English. He was a judge of the Wasco Judicial District and the community handyman.
A native of Adair, Ill., he came to California with his family, the Jefferson Bennetts, in 1906. After only a year in Gardena, the family moved to Wasco, where Mr. Bennett received his grammar school education. He went to high school in Bakersfield and then served overseas during World War I, stationed in England.
Returning to Wasco in 1918, he drove a freight truck to Lost Hills. With a natural knack for "fixing things," he tried his hand at everything from carpentry to electrical work, and his willingness to help with whatever a friend or neighbor might be doing soon made him in demand.
His "jobs" took him into homes all over Wasco and his many friendships thus made helped him to be elected judge after filling out the term at the death of Judge Arch Beckes, in 1947. He served until 1953 when Judge Fred Pritschke took over the post.
Finding him to be always helpful, many people grew to depend on Mr. Bennett, best described as just a "good neighbor," for a lot of different things.
Seriously ill for the past several years, Mr. Bennett had been hospitalized at Sawtelle for some time before his death.
Surviving him are a sister, Mrs. W. G. McCombs; three brothers, Howard and Jack Bennett of Bakersfield and Walter Bennett of Hollywood.
Pallbearers were Lee Tribble, Leo Cooper, Adolph Gafner, Al Hagenston, Al Villegas and Bob Waugh.