Pete Bentley

L.O. "Pete" Bentley, 92, of Joshua, died Monday, Jan. 20, 2014, at Community Hospice of Texas House in Burleson, Texas. Services: 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 24, 2014, at Lane Prairie Baptist Church with the Rev. Jerry Clements officiating. Interment: Caddo Cemetery. Visitation: 6-8 p.m. Thursday at Mountain Valley Funeral Home. L.O. was born Dec. 21, 1921, in Joshua to V.C. and Ona Lou House Bentley. He attended Joshua schools and graduated in 1941. He attended Tarleton College for one year and was then drafted into the U.S. Army and served in North Africa during World War II. He later attended Texas Christian University where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in education in 1954 and studied at Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. Pete had a variety of job opportunities during his lifetime. He sold produce from his family farm as a very young man and ran a bread delivery route for Mrs. Baird's Bread. He was a math and building trades teacher at Joshua High School, an ordained minister, carpenter, brick mason and land developer, but his passion was always construction, mainly churches. Bentley Ray and Associates, Bentley and Bentley and L.O. Bentley Construction were three of his companies that built numerous churches as well as residential and commercial buildings in Texas and across the United States. L.O. was involved in the community of Joshua and served as mayor and as a member of the water board, planning and zoning committee and was a member of the Joshua ISD school board. He served as a director of First National Bank of Joshua and Cleburne. Mr. Bentley was a member of Lane Prairie Baptist Church and served as deacon for several years and was a 50-year member of Caddo Lodge No. 352, as well as the Scottish Rite. On Feb. 14, 1942, L.O. married Pauline Ray at First Baptist Church in Joshua. After her death in 1985, he married Lucille "Lucy" Buck Brawner on May 28, 1986. Mr. Bentley is survived by a daughter, Kathy Nelson and husband, Gene; two sons, Calvin Bentley of Blum and Dr. Randall Bentley and wife, Anita; seven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren; sister, Mary Lou Richardson of Fort Worth; brother, Otis Bentley of Franklin, Tenn.; extended family, Marie and Bob Smith, Linda and Bill Robbins and family and Lloyd and Linda Brawner and family; numerous nieces and nephews; and a host of friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; two loving wives; two great-granddaughters; and three brothers, Hoy, Woodrow and Ray. Pallbearers will be Eric Nelson, Brent Nelson, John Barnett, Kyle Bentley, Bryce Bentley and Chase Bentley. The family would like to thank Community Hospice of Cleburne, his nurse Lisa and Dad's two wonderful caregivers, Deloris and Mindy, for their compassion and help.