Fred Douglas Bentley Sr.

FRED D. BENTLEY, SR. age 92 of Kennesaw, passed away peacefully at his home on October 3, 2019 just shy of his 93rd birthday. He was born on October 15, 1926, in Marietta, Georgia to the late Oscar Andrew Bentley and Ima Irene Prather Bentley. Fred, “Bow Tie” Bentley was truly a philanthropic renaissance man. A 7th generation Cobb Countian, he was utterly committed to his community, having founded innumerable charities, serving in the Georgia State House of Representatives and State Senate. He was also a founder of the Kennesaw Junior College, later to become Kennesaw State University. Though Fred, Sr. is well known for his love and knowledge of history, art, rare books and historical artifacts, what he really valued was faith, family, education and sharing all of these things with others--and he was not short on action. Fred, Sr. had a passion for life and was the consummate southern gentlemen. He graduated from Marietta High School and Presbyterian College and received his law degree from Emory University at the age of 23. He also served in the United States Navy and attended Naval Engineering School. He was later awarded an honorary Ph.D. of the Humanities by Kennesaw State University. He was the last surviving member of the original Cobb County Bar Association and was active in the practice of law since 1948, the senior partner of Bentley, Bentley & Bentley for the past 50 years. Fred, Sr. was a member of the Marietta Community Church and his love of Christ was evidenced by his generous spirit and the thousands of small crosses that he handed out to each and every person he met along his journey, every day. He led lay witness missions proclaiming the Gospel throughout the United States. In serving his state and local communities, Fred, Sr. was the past President of Cobb County Chamber of Commerce; Past State Chairman, Georgia Mental Health Association; Chairman, Georgia Council for the Arts & Humanities; C Emergency Services (now Cobb );Past President, Toastmasters Club; Chairman, Empty Stocking Fund; Member of Rotary International; Board of Advisors, League of Women Voters; Advisory Board Y.W.C.A.; Life Member, Georgia P.T.A.; Founder and Board of Trustees, Cobb Landmarks Society, Inc.; National Historical Society; Marietta Arts Council; High Museum of Art; Former President of Kennestone Hospital Guild; Fellow - American Committee for the British Library; Co-Founder and Board of Trustees, Kennesaw College; Financial Chairman, Founder, Kennesaw Mountain Jaycees; North Georgia Chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes; Salmagundi Club; Grand Central Art; Honorary Life Member, Cummer Gallery of Art; Trustee, Cobb Symposium; Chairman, Cobb Symposium '84; Member, Board of Advisors, University of Georgia Museum of Art. Chairman of the Board and founder of Charter Bank and Trust from 1985-2001, and served as Chairman Emeritus. Additionally, he founded two rare book galleries: The Mr. and Mrs. Fred D. Bentley, Sr. Rare Book Gallery at Kennesaw State University (now the Bentley Rare Book Museum) and the Mr. and Mrs. Fred D. Bentley, Sr. Rare Book Gallery at Brenau University in Gainesville, Georgia, and donated vigorously, both works of American art and rare books to numerous other institutions of education. Fred, Sr. beginning at the young age of 22 served three terms in the Georgia House of Representatives, 1951-1957, and one term in the Georgia Senate, 1958. He was named "Young Man of the Year," 1951, and one of the "Hundred Men of Tomorrow" for the metropolitan Atlanta area by "Time" Magazine, 1953. He received the Clarice C. Bagwell Distinguished Service award, Emory University School of Law and Marietta High School Distinguished Alumni Awards, and too many other awards to recount. He was a member of the J. Pierpont Morgan Library, Groliers Club and served as attaché for the Nation of Ghana during the Centennial Olympic games in Atlanta. Fred, Sr. was a devoted father, grandfather and great grandfather who was loved for his zest and positive outlook on life. Fred, Sr. was preceded in death by his brother, Jack, his beloved wife of 43years, Sara Moss Bentley, and is survived by two children, Fred D. Bentley, Jr. (and his wife, Pixie Foster Bentley). and R. Randall Bentley, Sr. (and his wife Sue Knight Bentley), six grandchildren, Rhett, Elisabeth, Matt, R. Randall, Jr., Landon and Caroline and 3 great grandchildren. He was also preceded in death by his beloved 2nd wife, Jane McNeel Bentley of 19 years and is survived by five stepsons. A private interment will be held at the Gresham Family Cemetery off Shallowford Road in Marietta with the family receiving visitors at Mayes-Ward Dobbins Funeral Home in Marietta on October 25 from 4:30-6:30 pm, with a memorial service to be conducted at Roswell Street Baptist Church in Marietta on October 26, at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations either to Marietta Community Church or the Fred D. Bentley Sr. Scholarship at KSU.

Fred Douglas Bentley Sr.

October 15, 1926 - October 3, 2019