Robert H. Bean, 97, of Burlington went to be with his Lord Jesus Christ on May 5, 2012.
Robert was born in Erwin, Tenn., in 1914 to Russel and Mary Bean in a log cabin on the Bean family farm. They moved to Mount Vernon in May of 1920. He was raised in Clear Lake, Anacortes and Dewey Beach, Wash. A resident of the state of Washington for 91 years, he graduated from Anacortes High School in 1933.
He started his work career in 1928 at the age of 14 as a “Rip Saw Punk” at Anacortes Lumber & Box and worked summers of 1929, ‘30, ’31. In 1932 he did farm work in the Skagit Flats. In 1933 he worked for Sabaston Stuart on a pile driver building fish traps and in Alaska doing the same through 1935. From 1935 to 1938 he worked on the ferries around Pot Gamble and worked part time for Puget Sound Power & Light Co. in 1936 and 1937. In the fall of 1938 he entered Western Washington College of Education for two years as a math major and played football for two seasons playing on the 1938/39 undefeated team. Robert gained fulltime employment with P.S.P.&L. Co. in 1940 as a materials man, a helper and a truck driver. He served his apprenticeship and became a journeyman lineman in Bremerton.
He had met his future wife, Helen Gracia Masters, at W.W.C.E previously and they were married June 8, 1941 in Enumclaw. They had three children, Leonard R, Bean (wife Cheryl) of Longview, Harold W. Bean (wife Becky) of Anacortes, and Jennifer R. McKee (husband Greg) of Mount Vernon; nine grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Robert’s career continued with P.S.P.&L. Co., moving to Bellingham in 1945 as a journeyman lineman, on to Langley as a working foreman. In 1962 he and his family moved to Oak Harbor. He was now the superintendent of Whidbey Island line crews and in 1966 came a final move to Burlington as Superintendent of Skagit County, southern end of Whatcom County and Island Counties Division for P.S.P.&L Co.
He was active in the Presbyterian Church in Bellingham, Oak Harbor and Sedro-Woolley, active member of Rotary and the I.B.E.W. Bob and Helen loved to dance, loved the outdoors camping and fishing, spending time on their beach property and in later years they traveled extensively in Mexico, Australia, and Israel along with special fishing trips into the Canadian back country. Robert was a lifetime golfer, even attempting to teach his family the game. He spent many years as a vocational teacher of apprentice linemen in Renton.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Russel and Mary Bean; two brothers, Walt and Bill Bean; one sister, Mildred Heller; and his wife of 53 years, Helen Gracia (Masters) Bean in 1994.
He married Margaret Finlayson in 1998 and added her two children, Bonnie and Dennis and spouses of Bellingham to his family. Margaret preceded Robert, passing in 2009.
A memorial service will be held Wednesday, May 16, at 2 p.m. at Hulbush Funeral Home, Burlington.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made in his memory to Salvation Army, 3001 R Avenue, Unit 100, Anacortes, WA 98221. Please share your memories at www.Legacy.com.
