Ray Bean Sr., 85, of Elkhart, passed away Tuesday afternoon, June 28, 2022 at Elkhart General Hospital, surrounded by his loving family. Ray was born on October 3, 1936 in Calhoun County, Miss. to the late Bill Bean and Elvie (Welch) Warner. He married the former Ruby J. Chester on June 29, 1963 in South Bend. Ruby passed on December 26, 2014 after 51 years of marriage. Surviving are his children, Betty Bean, Cora (Pastor Jonathon) Brown, Ray (Rhonda) Bean Jr., Deborah "Debi" Johnson, Elaine Kiefer, and Shawn "Ty" (Michelle) Bean; 20 grandchildren; 25 great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews, with two special nieces, Bobbie Ruth McField, and Rhonda Freeman. Ray was preceded in death by his son, Edward Lee Bean, brothers Joe Willie Bean and his twin Ralph Bean and sister Annie Bell Drake.

Ray retired in 1998 after 37 years of service with Miles Laboratories (Bayer Corp.) He was the 2nd Black person to be hired on the production line and was working at the Citric Acid Plant when he retired. He was a member of the United Steel Workers Union Local #12273 and also served as an officer in the union. He was very involved with the Democratic Party and was a Past Chairman of the Elkhart County Election Board. Ray was a long-time member of Canaan Baptist Church, where he served as an usher. He was a member of two well-known spiritual singing groups, the Spiritual Harmonizers and Glory Travelers. Ray also received the volunteer of the year award from the Harvest Food Basket program for all of his help over the years. Ray was an avid bowler and member of the Elkhart Moose Lodge #599, where he enjoyed playing cards. He was a Notre Dame sports fan and enjoyed fishing.

Ray's homegoing celebration will begin at Noon, with visitation starting at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 8, 2022 at Canaan Baptist Church, 933 Fieldhouse Ave. Pastor McNeal Stewart will officiate. Burial will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Billings Funeral Home, Elkhart. Condolences may be made online to Ray's family at www.billingsfuneralhome.com