Dr. C. Thomas Bean (1920-2007)
Dr. C. Thomas Bean, 87, of Ashland, Ky., died Thursday, June 21, 2007, in Woodland Oaks Health Care Facility. Tom was born May 14, 1920, in Winchester, Ill., a son of the late Claude and Emma Bean. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Grace Williams of Jacksonville, Ill. Tom is survived by his wife, Jennie of Ashland; a son, David Bean of Leesburg, Va., and a daughter, Nancy Callahan of Randolph, N.Y.
Tom was born and raised on the family homestead farm in western Illinois and had a love for chemisty and mathematics from an early age. He earned his baccalaureate degree from Western Illinois University where he met his bride, Jennie Rose Ernst of Hamilton, Ill. The couple married in 1944 and moved to Lawrence, Kan., where Tom had an assistantship at the University of Kansas. One month before D-Day Tom was hired by the Manhattan Project and they moved to Oak Ridge, Tenn., where Tom was in charge of one of the analytical laboratories. Following the war, Tom and Jennie returned to Lawrence where Tom earned his master’s and then doctorate in 1949. Tom had two careers in researcch chemistry, the first in Niagara Falls, N.Y., with Hooker Chemical Corporation. It was in Niagara Falls that the couple raised their children, David and Nancy. Following retirement in Niagara Falls, the couple came to Ashland for Tom to persue a second career with Ashland Chemical, where he was the director of administration and technical services. Tom retired from Ashland in 1985.
Tom and Jennie were active members of Ashland’s First Presbyterian Church and Tom’s life was always guided by the principle of service. Habitat for Humanity and Meals on Wheels were among the several volunteer organizations that benefited from Tom’s devoted work.
Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at Steen Funeral Home-Central Avenue Chapel in Ashland by Dr. Richard Smith. Visitation will be from 6 to 7 tonight and from noon to 1 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Tom will return “home” to western Illinois for burial in Gillham Cemetery in Winchester, following a graveside service at 1 p.m. Tuesday afternoon.
Memorials in Tom’s name can be made to the National Parkinson Foundation at parkinson.org and the First Presbyterian Church of Ashland, 1600 Winchester Ave., Ashland, Ky.
Online condolences can be sent to steenfuneralhomes.com.
