William Alvin Bean

Memorial service for William Alvin Bean will be held 2:00 p.m Friday, November 23, 2012 at the New Life Baptist Church. Pastor Charles Wyatt will officiate.

William passed away Tuesday, November 20, 2012 at the Claremore Veterans Center at the age of 81.

The son of Haskell and Gertrude Cross Bean was born April 7, 1931in Loma Linda, California. He was raised and attended school there. When he became of age, William joined the United States Army. After boot camp he was stationed at Ft. Story, Virginia. While in Ft. Story he met Dorothy Evelyn Norton. They were married December 11, 1949. He continued his Army career, and then transferred to the Army Air Corp during the Korean War. He served as a B-26 Crew Chief, where he earned a Bronze Star and the United Nations Service Medal. When he completed his stint in the Air Corp he returned to Virginia. Over the next four years he worked a few odd jobs, before deciding to join the United States Air Force. His primary job then was serving as a Radar Site Operator. After several years of service, he became sick and was medically discharged in 1962. He returned to Virginia where he worked for the Hampton Police Department. A few short years later he took a job working for Air Products and Chemicals as a diesel mechanic and truck driver. That job later took him to Lone Star, Texas, Pryor, Oklahoma and then back to Cut-N-Shoot, Texas. After the passing of his wife, William was attending a Methodist singles group. There he met Lucille Marie Mock. They were married May 24, 1991. They continued to live in Texas until 2004 when the moved to Oklahoma. Staying in Tulsa a short time before moving to Claremore. In his spare time he loved playing music. He and a group of friends had enjoyed traveling in their motor homes, stopping often to play gospel music. He served as the keyboard and the base player. Most of all his favorite thing to do was spend time with his family. He was a 32nd Degree masonic Mason and a Scottish Rite.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Haskell and Gertrude.

Survivors include his wife, Lucille of the home; children, Mike Bean of Tulsa, Larry Bean and wife Loretta of Alamogordo, NM, Roy Bean and wife Kathy of Poquoson, VA, and Martha Swank and husband Jerry of Chouteau; step-children, Edward Sullivan and wife Sue of Sapulpa, Michael Dan Sullivan and wife Cathy of Sterling, AK, Gay Sparka of Conrow, TX, and Jill Westbrook and husband Danny of Magnolia, TX; grandchildren, Doug, Michael, Rebecca, Travis, Jason, Eric, and Chris; step-grandchildren, Tracie, Gable, Robert, Shanon, Angie, Amy, Sara, Misti, Kristi, Nicki, Jeremiah, Matthew, Dillon, Jonathen, Andrew, Breanna, Jacob, Starr, and Joshua; great-grandchildren, Hannah, Chasen, Conagher, Sean, Antonio, and Cordillia; 10 step great-grandchildren and numerous other extended family.