Merion (Bill) was born on September 2, 1944, to Dorthy and Elwood Bear in Olive Hill, Kentucky.
The family permanently moved to Ohio in the late 1950’s.
In 1964 he married his beloved wife, Wilhemia (Muncie) Bear, and they had two children, William (Bill) Bear and Lisa Kay Bear.
He retired from Crane Plumbing in 2003, after 37 years and that was only because the plant had closed.
Bill was a man who knew no strangers. He would strike up a conversation with anyone no matter where he was at.
He had a special way of always making everyone laugh and brought joy to the lives of everyone around him. He loved to tell jokes, and it didn’t matter how many times you had heard him tell the same joke he always made you laugh like you had just heard it for the first time.
He had an amazing work ethic that he passed down to both of his children, he went 26 straight years of never being late or missing a day of work!
He gave meaning to the phrase “they broke the mold after they made him”. He truly was a great Husband, Father, Grandpa, Brother, Uncle, Son, Friend and Neighbor.
Bill is survived by his beloved wife of 59 years, Wilhemia (Muncie) Bear; a son, William (Bill) Bear; a daughter, Lisa Kay Bear; a sister, Rita Dean; three grandchildren, Amanda Burns, Christopher (Bub) Lester, and Brandi Bear; and four great-grandchildren, Addison Mosier, Faith, Aria, and Sammy Burns.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Dorthy and Elwood Bear; his brother, Steve Bear; and his sister, Nella Alexander.
Per Bill’s wishes, there will be no services.
