Philip Earl Bennett, age 86, a resident of Palatine, IL, passed away on Thursday, March 23, 2023. He was born in Chicago on June 21, 1936 to Martin & Darley Bennett. He was the third of four children. Phil had a wonderful childhood, brought up by Godly parents in a loving, Christian home. He attended Niles Township High School in Skokie. After graduating in 1954, he began attending the University of Illinois in Champaign Urbana where he received his doctorate in mechanical engineering nine years later. In 1957, he married his high school sweetheart Alva Sholin. While still attending college and working full time, he had three children (Andy, Kurt and Jenny).

Phil graduated from the University in 1963 and accepted a job at Westinghouse in Pennsylvania doing engineering research. He worked there for four years. After leaving Westinghouse, the family (now including Wendy and Thad) moved to Cape May, New Jersey where he taught math and science for two years at Shelton College. It was then that he received a call from Pastor Paul Lindstrom asking him to come and help start a new Christian school in Prospect Heights, IL that would be part of the Church of Christian Liberty which Paul Lindstrom and Phil Roos had started several years earlier. Phil accepted the offer and in 1969, he moved his family to Palatine, IL. He helped to oversee the construction of a new school building on Camp McDonald Road (along with Phil Roos), while also teaching in some temporary trailers being used as classrooms until the building was finished. At this time he had his sixth child (Caleb).

He spent the next 50+ years teaching, administering, directing, preaching, and mentoring. Phil and Paul Lindstrom were committed to having a school that teaches sound Biblical doctrine, and conservative political ideas. They intertwined these ideas into all the classes, from math to science to literature to economics making sure the students had both a well-rounded education and a Biblical worldview.

Phil began to slow down physically in 2020 and went into semi-retirement - though still involved in the school, helping to guide the work and those that followed in his footsteps. In 2023, he had a serious decline in his health, and he peacefully went to be with the Lord on March 23 surrounded by his family and friends. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him, but we are so joyful he is free of pain and rejoicing in heaven with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for all eternity.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Alva; his six children: Andrew (Becky), Kurt (Jil), Jenny, Wendy (Paul) Kramer, Thad (Isabel) and Caleb (Kristin) Bennett; his 28 grandchildren & 24 great-grandchildren; and his sister Virginia (Ben) Pent.

He was preceded in death by his granddaughter Moriah Bennett and his two brothers: Bob (the late Hazel) & Ralph (the late Audrey) Bennett.

A visitation will be held at the Grace Gym at Church of Christian Liberty, 502 W. Euclid Ave, Arlington Heights, IL 60004, (enter the gym on Ridge Ave.) on Monday, March 27, 2023 from 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. with a funeral service to begin at 7:00 p.m. Burial will be private at St. John Cemetery in Arlington Heights.

Memorial gifts may be directed to Church of Christian Liberty.