Leroy M. Bean Jr.

At the age of 87, LEROY MERRILL BEAN, JR. departed this life on Thursday, October 17, 2013 at the University of Maryland Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. Leroy Merrill Bean, Jr. was born at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland on Saturday, August 07, 1926 to the late Leroy and Nina Franklin Bean. He was the first born of ten children in that union and all family members called him “Junior”. He spent his early childhood with his family in Dowell, Maryland in Calvert County. In early 1940, the family moved to Baltimore City after fire destroyed their home and six of his siblings perished along with his grandfather. Leroy attended school in Calvert County, Maryland. He enlisted in the United States Army (Army Air Corps, 3 years) during World War II and received an Honorable Discharge in 1946 with the rank of Corporal (CPL) from Lockbourne Army Air Base in Columbus, Ohio. Leroy was an Airplane Engine Mechanic, receiving the Good Conduct Medal, American Theatre Ribbon, the Victory Ribbon and the Army Air Forces Certificate of Appreciation for War Services. Leroy served at The Lockbourne Army Air Base (renamed Lockbourne AFB) during the tenure of General Benjamin Davis (one the African-American Tuskegee Airmen of World War II). In his youth, he was a member of John Wesley United Methodist Church of Baltimore along with his parents and brother. He later joined Bethel AME Church (the church of his grandmother and sisters) under Rev. John R. Bryant and served on the usher board. From Bethel, Leroy became one of the founding members of Adams Chapel AME Church in 1982 under Rev. Michael Thomas and his wife, Rev. Debyii Thomas. At Adams Chapel, he served on the Board of Trustees, was an usher and the church general maintenance/handy man, painter, carpenter, and lawn keeper. In 1993 he completed Boot Camp at Adams Chapel under Rev. Raymond Banks and Rev. Rashi Pinckney. Adams Chapel honored him as, “Man of the Year.” The Trustee Board honored him for his dedicated service in making a difference to the church in November, 1995. In order to be closer to his home, Leroy later joined Falls Road AME Church under Rev. Arthur B. Glover where he served as a member of the Senior Usher Board, Male Usher Board and Senior Ministry. In April of 1999, Mayor Kurt Schmoke presented him with a Certificate and Award of Merit for civic welfare and public service to Baltimore City. Leroy was employed as a mixer for Lux Toilet Soap and Dove at Lever Brothers Company for 45 years and never missed a day of work! He retired in August, 1988 as a charter member of Phase III Retirement Club, Inc. and former treasurer of the Phase III Retirement Club, Inc. It was at Lever Brothers that he met Carmen Bullock Barnes. They married at Bethel AME Church in May, 1976 with Rev. John R. Bryant officiating the wedding. They were blessed in their union with a daughter, Nina Denise in 1978. Leroy loved watching and reading the news and sports as well as the reading the Bible, Ebony and Jet magazines. He enjoyed all “ball related sports”, especially baseball, football and tennis. He enjoyed tennis even more when the Williams Sisters played. His hobbies and activities included: fishing, traveling to Calvert County with family, and staying in touch with the Bean & Franklin family members both in Calvert County, and across the country. Leroy enjoyed keeping busy by doing yard work, cleaning and maintaining his car, home maintenance, volunteering at church and in the neighborhood and visiting friends.

Tributes

Leroy M. Bean Jr.

August 7, 1926 - October 17, 2013