Richard Arlen Bain

He was born the youngest of 3 on August 12, 1936 to Theda Smither (Mother), with siblings Harold (Brother) and Ferrell (Brother) in Advance, MO.

Theda re-married when he was about 12, and together, the family relocated to St. Louis, MO where the majority of the Bain family remained.

Upon graduation from high school, he enlisted in the United States Air Force, and trained in the technical career field of Aviation Navigation and Communications systems. In 1968, he served in Viet Nam, where he occasionally engaged in combat, earning the Bronze Star. Later in his career, he transitioned from the technical career field into leadership and thus instructed and managed NCO schools at all levels in South Korea and the CONUS. He retired in 1978 at the rank of Master Sargent.

His post military career included roles such as owner/founder of PDQ Temporary Employment agency, Instructor and Associate Dean of DeVry Technical University, and private security contractor services finally settling into the quiet life of retirement in 2012.

He married Jane Thomas (Jane Gentry) in 1961 and had 3 children with her, Richard Bain Jr. (son), Laura Pollex (daughter), and Robert Bain(son). His granddaughters are Faith Bain, Anna Bain, Mary Brown, and Stormi Pollex. Grandsons are Jason Bain and Cody Brown.

The marriage did not last however, and he re-married in 1985 to his beloved wife Arylene. Together they raised Mary Plumb who also gave him granddaughters Alyssa Rogers (deceased), Tristan Hancock, and Michelle Chevalier, and grandson Austin Rogers. Tristian has a child of her own, giving him is only great-grandchild Silas Hancock.

Throughout his life, he always enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, and the occasional card game. He was a spectator fan of baseball and football, but has been known to jump in and play with family, students, and friends.

He was a patriot, mentor, loving husband, father, friend, and confidant. He will be missed by those surviving him.

Arylene: “… the fun we had at the DeVry student ball games when he was the pitcher. Most enjoyable were the funny comments students made about his pitching skills..“

Richard: “He took me squirrel hunting back in ’75 or so. Gave me a box of ammo and sent me into the woods. After about an hour, I came back empty, but had 6 or 7 squirrels in my pockets. Looked at me and said it sounded like WW3 in there.., need another box?”

Mary (Plumb): “First memory is taking me out for a steak dinner when I was about 7. Wasn’t impressed so I asked that we go to McDonald’s next time. He about fell out of his chair. Also tried to teach me pool, but I struggled to catch on until one day it clicked and it made him so proud. He always found time for a game with me, until one day recently he simply said he couldn’t. He will be missed.”

Julie (step-daughter): “One year we came into town between Thanksgiving and X-mas. We all piled into the van and he drove us through the Longview ‘Christmas in the Park’ lights display.”

Laura: “He took me rabbit hunting.., once. I ran through the brush shouting ‘run for your lives or my dad is going to kill you!’ He was not amused.”