Robert R Bean

Bob was born on April 9, 1929 in Orlando, Florida to Eleanor Bean (Whitfield) and John E Bean. He lived much of his youth in Central Florida areas including Lake Alfred and Orlando. He met his spouse, Shirley, when he was 12 years old and she was 6, after moving into a family home on Colonial Drive in the Jamajo district of Orlando. He attended local schools, and after high school graduation he earned a degree at a Radio School in Chicago. He often traveled to Haiti where his parents worked at the Dauphin Plantation, the country’s largest producer of Sisal products, and visited and handled issues back home for them.

His life plans were interrupted upon being drafted into the Army, where he served in Korea during the War. Although he earned medals for his skill in shooting (he was an excellent shot from a very young age), his skills in typing and organization found him more valuable for service in supply. Upon his return to the USA, he found Shirley had set her eyes on him as her future husband and they began to date. He became a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union Local 606 and earned his certification as a Journeymen Electrician. Upon Shirley’s graduation from teacher’s college, they were married and moved to Ft Lauderdale for her first teaching job. Unable to find work, Bob spent his time constructing an array of scale models with exacting dedication to the finest details. It was a trait that showed in all he undertook.

A few years later they returned to the Orlando area and had their son Randolph in 1961. Bob began his long career as an IBEW Electrician. They soon purchased their first home on Amigos Ave in Pine Hills. Bob spent years improving the home and working on crafts, until they moved to Oviedo in the early 1970’s. Their new home had a garage when soon became a workshop for his increasing interest in woodworking. The family fished, boated,camped and enjoyed many other activities. Bob lead a yearly trip to the Kissimmee Airshow, which stimulated a life-long interest in Aviation in his son.

His life was filled with work and interests and he retired after a long career with IBEW Local 606. Shirley and Bob made up for a lack of vacations by traveling after his retirement. They shared their time between reunions, and at time shares where they planned yearly meetings with new friends they had meet their. Bob was shocked to lose Shirley during a heart valve operation just weeks before their 48th anniversary. The final five years of his life he grew increasingly close to a number of close friends and his only son.

The last two years of his life he struggled with health issues from his earlier smoking habit, and grew increasingly ready to again see his wife. His personal wishes dictated not merely surviving on life support, so his son and daughter-in-law arrived in town to be with him during his passing. His final day was spent talking to friends and family while struggling against the breathing mask that kept him alive. After the treat of an ice cream which enjoyed immensely, he quietly slipped away to “Go see his Shirley again”. He passed away at 6:36 p.m. on Saturday, May 21, 2011.