Col. William Raymond “Ray” Bean, 70, passed away on January 18, 2014 following a long struggle with pancreatic cancer. Col. Bean, a resident of Montgomery, Alabama, was born on September 1, 1943 in Alexander City, Alabama. He graduated high school in Wetumpka in 1961 and attended Auburn University where he earned a degree in Agricultural Economics and was actively involved in many University programs such as the Student Government Association, Theta Chi Fraternity and Omicron Delta Kappa.
Following his graduation from Auburn in 1966, Col. Bean entered the Air Force as a navigator and was stationed in many locations before subsequently being sent to Vietnam where he became a prisoner of war (POW) on May 23, 1972. Upon his release 10 months later on March 28, 1973, Col. Bean attended pilot training school in Texas, where he met his wife Mindy Rodgers Bean. They were married on February 14, 1976 and began a wonderful life that spanned 37 years.
After a 30 year career that took him all over the globe, Col. Bean’s final assignment with the Air Force brought him and his family to Maxwell Air Force Base. He later retired and joined Civil Air Patrol (CAP) and was their Director of Cadet Programs for 9 years.
Following retirement from CAP, Col. Bean enjoyed golf, Auburn University football, traveling, fishing, weekly bible study and volunteering at the Montgomery Archives. He is survived by his wife Mindy, daughter and son-in-law Peyton and Tyler Turner; granddaughter, Olivia; brothers, Paul, Al and David, and sister, Cindy.
Col. Bean will lay in rest at Leak Memory Chapel on Wednesday, January 22 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. A formal visitation will be on Thursday, January 23 at 10:00 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in the Fellowship Hall with a memorial service at 11:00 a.m. in the sanctuary. In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to be made to Wounded Warrior, PO Box 68, Auburn, AL 36831.
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