Beverly Neil Lancaster

Beverly Neil Lancaster (Bev to many and Bill to some) died suddenly on Sunday, July 5, 2015. Bev was born on Sunday, October 6, 1929 in Kingman, Kansas to William H. and Jean Lancaster. After a childhood spent traveling around the country with his parents while his father worked construction, he settled in Beggs, Oklahoma where he graduated high school in 1947. He then matriculated at Oklahoma A & M University (now Oklahoma State University) in fall 1947 on an ROTC scholarship. Thus began a life-long affinity for his alma mater in Stillwater. After starting out as an engineering major, he soon realized that his talents lay in the business field. In spring 1951, he met the love of his life, Laura Evelyn Lancaster (nee Myers). After he completed his studies and earned a business degree in December 1951, they were married on January 26, 1952. He then began five years of service in the United States Air Force where he served as a bomber pilot. While in the Air Force and stationed at Forbes AFB in Topeka, his first two children, Beverly Kristine (Kris) and Karen Jeanette (Karen) were born in 1954 and 1955, respectively. After completing his Air Force service in 1957, he went to work at The Boeing Company in Wichita, where he and his family would spend the remainder (with the exception of one year in Seattle) of his working life. His son, William Joseph (Joe) was born in Wichita in 1959. Bev spent almost 30 years at Boeing, retiring in July 1986 as executive vice president of the Boeing Military Airplane Company. During his tenure at Boeing, he was involved in numerous civic causes, especially the United Way, an organization he served in numerous capacities. This initial retirement didn’t last long, however, as he went to work at LearJet, Inc. in November 1987 as vice president and general manager of its Wichita aerospace division. He was then named president and chief executive of LearJet, Inc. in January 1988. After shepherding LearJet’s acquisition by Bombardier, he retired for good in June 1990. After retirement, he and Evelyn split their time between Wichita and Green Valley, Arizona and traveled extensively. As a final recognition of his business acumen and achievements, he was inducted into the Spears School of Business Hall of Fame at Oklahoma State University in 2009. He was living in Tucson, Arizona at the time of his death. Bev was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife, Evelyn, and his daughter, Karen. He is survived by his daughter, Kris (husband, Bill Zimmerman) of Tucson, his son, Joe (wife Lisa Lancaster) of Plano, Texas, and his grandchildren, Chris and Laura. He was a loving husband, a wonderful father and grandfather and a terrific executive. A memorial service will be held at Lakeview Gardens (12100 E. 13th Street N., Wichita, KS 67206) on Saturday, July 11, 2015 at 10 a.m. The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to The Seeing Eye (P. O. Box 375, Morristown, NJ 07963 or www.seeingeye.org).