Obituary of Doris BENNETT

Doris "Dolly" Ann, Bennett, 69, died of natural causes Saturday, September 18, 2004 at home in Lake Havasu City, AZ. She was born June 21, 1935 in Ventura, CA; to Claude Wilbur Smith and Alice Kathryn Ruffinelli. From her childhood until her marriage, she lived with her Aunt Mercedes and Uncle Antone J. Ruffinelli. In 1955, Dolly married Donald L. Bennett in Ventura in the Catholic Church.After her marriage, she was employed by the Ventura County Sheriff's Office. Her family said she enjoyed her job very much. She became the second policewoman in Ventura County, working at the Oxnard Police Department, which they said was a great honor. The family moved overseas in 1968. From 1968 to 1974, Dolly, her husband Don and daughter Tanya lived in Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands. They returned to California for a year only to end up in Anchorage, Alaska. Dolly and Don left for Saudi Arabia where they worked and spent many years until retirement, traveling abroad with friends and family to Europe, Japan, Guam, Egypt, Pakistan and Cyprus before returning to Lake Havasu City for retirement. Her family said Dolly loved weekly visits to Laughlin to try her luck at the slot machines. She also enjoyed crossword puzzles and TV games shows.Dolly is survived by her daughter, Tanya Bennett of Anchorage; sister Renie Ruffinelli, uncle A.J. Ruffinelli, and cousin, Ric Ruffinelli.A Catholic memorial mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 2, 2004 at Our Lady of the Lake Roman Catholic Church.Arrangements were entrusted to Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home and Crematory.