Obituary
ELKHART — Ralph Bean, 78, a longtime resident of Elkhart, passed away July 28 in his home.
He was born Oct. 24, 1936, in Calhoun County, Miss., to Bill and Elvie (Welch) Bean.
Surviving are his twin brother, Ray Bean of Elkhart; daughters Bobbie Williams of Greenwood, Miss., Billie (Jay Marvin) Grant of Bedford, Texas, Martha Bean of Elkhart, Margaret (Vernon) Johnson of Elkhart and Beverly Wohlenhaus of Brooklyn Center, Minn.; sons David (Rhonda) Freeman of Elkhart, Willie Bean of Elkhart, Anthony Bean of San Antonio and James (Ernestine) Bean of Elkhart; three stepsons, Jerry Beathea of Elkhart, Bryan Beathea of Cassopolis, Mich., and Edward (Kim) Beathea of Bloomington; 12 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; a special niece, Bobbie McField of Jackson, Miss.; and a host of nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by two wives, Leola Bean in 1983 and Ruth Beathea-Bean in 2010, as well as a great-grandson, Anthony Johnson.
Ralph was active and much loved in the community. In 1978, he served as a member on the Elkhart City Community Development, Benham West Project Committee. He was an Elkhart City Councilman from 2008 until 2012. He served as vice-chairman for the Elkhart City Board of Safety, on the Aviation Board and on the Elkhart Board of Zoning Appeals for more than 30 years. Ralph was a lifetime member of NAACP.
Ralph worked for NIPSCO, where he was a pipe mechanic, welder and area crew supervisor for the Elkhart and South Bend areas. After retiring, he taught welding at the Elkhart Area Career Center, he earned his CDL so that he could drive students to welding competitions. He was truly loved and will be missed by his former students.
Ralph was a faithful servant of the Lord. Serving his church, Canaan Baptist Church, where he was a longtime member. He served on the usher board before becoming a deacon. He sang in the male chorus and helped with youth ministries by picking up children for choir practice and taking them on church outings. Ralph did anything needed and was always willing to give a helping hand.
Visitation for Ralph will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, at Billings Funeral Home. Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, with an hour visitation prior at Canaan Baptist Church. The Rev. McNeal Stewart III will officiate. Burial will follow in Rice Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be sent to the Ralph Bean Scholarship Fund, c/o Reverend McNeal Stewart III, Canaan Baptist Church, 933 Fieldhouse Ave., Elkhart, IN 46517; or P.O. Box 1441, Elkhart, IN 46515-1441.
To share a memory of Ralph, or send a condolence to his family, please visit www.billingsfuneralhome.com.
He was born Oct. 24, 1936, in Calhoun County, Miss., to Bill and Elvie (Welch) Bean.
Surviving are his twin brother, Ray Bean of Elkhart; daughters Bobbie Williams of Greenwood, Miss., Billie (Jay Marvin) Grant of Bedford, Texas, Martha Bean of Elkhart, Margaret (Vernon) Johnson of Elkhart and Beverly Wohlenhaus of Brooklyn Center, Minn.; sons David (Rhonda) Freeman of Elkhart, Willie Bean of Elkhart, Anthony Bean of San Antonio and James (Ernestine) Bean of Elkhart; three stepsons, Jerry Beathea of Elkhart, Bryan Beathea of Cassopolis, Mich., and Edward (Kim) Beathea of Bloomington; 12 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; a special niece, Bobbie McField of Jackson, Miss.; and a host of nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by two wives, Leola Bean in 1983 and Ruth Beathea-Bean in 2010, as well as a great-grandson, Anthony Johnson.
Ralph was active and much loved in the community. In 1978, he served as a member on the Elkhart City Community Development, Benham West Project Committee. He was an Elkhart City Councilman from 2008 until 2012. He served as vice-chairman for the Elkhart City Board of Safety, on the Aviation Board and on the Elkhart Board of Zoning Appeals for more than 30 years. Ralph was a lifetime member of NAACP.
Ralph worked for NIPSCO, where he was a pipe mechanic, welder and area crew supervisor for the Elkhart and South Bend areas. After retiring, he taught welding at the Elkhart Area Career Center, he earned his CDL so that he could drive students to welding competitions. He was truly loved and will be missed by his former students.
Ralph was a faithful servant of the Lord. Serving his church, Canaan Baptist Church, where he was a longtime member. He served on the usher board before becoming a deacon. He sang in the male chorus and helped with youth ministries by picking up children for choir practice and taking them on church outings. Ralph did anything needed and was always willing to give a helping hand.
Visitation for Ralph will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, at Billings Funeral Home. Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, with an hour visitation prior at Canaan Baptist Church. The Rev. McNeal Stewart III will officiate. Burial will follow in Rice Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be sent to the Ralph Bean Scholarship Fund, c/o Reverend McNeal Stewart III, Canaan Baptist Church, 933 Fieldhouse Ave., Elkhart, IN 46517; or P.O. Box 1441, Elkhart, IN 46515-1441.
To share a memory of Ralph, or send a condolence to his family, please visit www.billingsfuneralhome.com.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ralph Bean, please visit our flower store.
Services
Funeral Service
August
8
Canaan Baptist Church
Starts at 11:00 am