Bennett Humiston Ravlin

Bennett Humiston Ravlin passed away on Friday, August 4, 2006, after a brief illness. He was 95 years old.

Born in 1911, he grew up on a farm in Kaneville, Illinois, with his parents, Frank and Emily Ravlin, and his older brothers and sisters: Harold, Lawrence, Francis, Alta, and Marian, all now deceased. As a child, Bennett raised chickens on the farm and was responsible for milk deliveries as he grew older. He took over the family farm at age 19 upon the death of his father. After farming for a few years, Bennett left Illinois to live with his sister in Pittsburgh and, subsequently graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in business.

In January 1942, he volunteered to join the U.S. Navy and served in the second world war as a lieutenant. During his service he spent time in Central and South America, India, and China, as well as other locations. In 1947 he married Roberta Kautzmann, and raised his family—daughters Susan, Heather, and Elizabeth—in Verona, New Jersey. While there he worked for Purolator Oil Filters in Rahway, NJ. He retired from Purolator in 1975 and began a second career in the delivery of mail, packages, and luggage across northern New Jersey. He retired for the second time in 1990 at the young age of 79. In 2001, he and Roberta moved to Catonsville, Maryland, to be near relatives.

Outside his work, Bennett had a lively interest in sports and was a life-long fan of the New York Yankees and the New York Knickerbockers. Throughout his life he never left his farming roots behind, and continued on a smaller scale in the Verona backyard, filling the house with fresh vegetables, especially tomatoes and corn. He also greatly enjoyed reading history, particularly Illinois and American history. Toward the end of his life, his experiences on the farm with his family in Illinois were never far from his thoughts.

A memorial service was held to remember Bennett and to celebrate his life on Saturday, September 23, 2006. The service was at Our Lady of the Angels Chapel on the grounds of the Charleston Retirement Community, followed by a gathering of friends and relations. In lieu of flowers, the family chose to honor Bennett's interest in history and his strong roots in the state of Illinois, Several memorial gifts to the Illinois State Historical Society were made in his honor.