Tsgt Roger Allan Bean, Usaf (Ret)

Roger Allan Bean, 89, entered into rest on Saturday, May 26, 2012.
Roger Allan Bean was born on February 3, 1923, in Hennepin County, Minnesota to the late William Elliott and Jessie Leonard Bean. The family moved to a farm in Anoka County where he lived until he graduated from Anoka High School in 1941. The summer after his graduation, Roger worked for his uncles Walt and Roy Leonard at their garage in Nisswa, Minnesota, and in the fall of 1941, he moved with his uncle Walt to Los Angeles, California to work for Lockheed Aircraft. Roger returned to Anoka, Minnesota in July of 1942 to serve as best man at his brother, Norman ¬¬¬¬Bean's marriage to Pat Beck. Tragically, Norman was killed just two days before their wedding.
In August of 1942, Roger went to work for Northwest Airlines in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and was sent to Fairbanks, Alaska to retrofit aircrafts being ferried to Russia in a lend-lease program. In November 1942, he enlisted in the United States Navy. In the Navy, his first assignment was Aviation School in Norman, Oklahoma. Roger transferred to the United States Air Force in 1943 and served his country with honor and commitment until his retirement in Warner Robins, Georgia, in 1963.
Following his twenty-year military career, Roger was employed by Eastern Airlines in Atlanta, Georgia in 1963. There, he was first a line mechanic, then a maintenance training instructor, and finally became the Director of Maintenance Training for Eastern Airlines. During his career at Eastern Airlines, Roger traveled extensively throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. He received numerous letters of appreciation and accolades from his trainees as well as from Eastern Airlines. He retired from Eastern Airlines in 1984.
Roger was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and uncle. In addition to his parents, his brother, Norman Leonard Bean, preceded him in his death.
Roger was a member of the Christ United Methodist Church in Warner Robins. He was a 32nd degree Mason and a member of the Jonesboro Masonic Lodge in Jonesboro, Georgia. He was a private pilot and managed the Luke Air Force Base Aero Club and the Robins Air Force Base Aero Club during his Air Force career. In addition to flying, Roger enjoyed restoring Model A automobiles, classic Chryslers, and small aircraft at his Air Park home in Warner Robins. Roger loved nothing more than taxiing one of his planes out to the grassy airstrip near his home and taking flight in the blue skies.
His memory will be treasured forever by his loving wife, Harriet Haggard Bean of Warner Robins; daughters, Sandra J. Bean Blaine, Sharon Elizabeth Bean Rhodes, Krisallen Louise Bean Karow, and son Robert Elliott Bean; niece, Ellen Pieri; grandchildren, Richard Jaeger Hottell, Kevin Carson Witt Todd, Daniel Wade Rhodes, Jessica Louise Rhodes Gore, and Kylie Dakota Parkes Bean; great-grandchildren, Steven and Kristen Hottell, and Sarah Rachel Rhodes; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Sunday, June 3, 2012 from 3:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. at McCullough Funeral Home. A memorial service will follow at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 3, 2012 in the chapel of McCullough Funeral Home. Burial will be private.


Funeral Home:
McCullough Funeral Home
417 S. Houston Lake Rd.
Warner Robins, GA
US 31088