Everett L. Bean

Everett L. Bean, 86, of Middle Road, died August 14, 2007 at his home in Langdon Place. He was formerly a resident of Richardson Drive, Dover.

Mr. Bean was born in Derry, New Hampshire on February 23, 1921, the son of George G. Bean and Mabel Stella (Larkin) Bean. He grew up in Exeter, spent his summers in Tunbridge, Vermont, and graduated from Exeter High School in 1939. He attended the University of New Hampshire where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in forestry in 1943. Serving with the Army Engineers in Europe during WWII, he trained in the use of aerial photogrammetry for the creation of bombsights. Following the war, he earned a Masters degree from the Yale Forestry School in 1947.

On February 14, 1943, he married Elizabeth “Libby” Blood in Hollis, NH. Together they raised three children and enjoyed 54 years of marriage. Mrs. Bean died in February 1997.

Following early years as a forester in North Woodstock, and Webster, NH, Mr. Bean worked for the NH Department of Transportation as a highway surveyor and engineer from 1953 until his retirement in 1986. After retirement, he volunteered his time at the Strafford County Jail, tutoring inmates in mathematics as they studied for their GED’s.

Mr. Bean was a member of St. John’s United Methodist Church from the time he and his family moved to Dover in 1954. Over the years, he was an active lay leader, loved to sing in the Senior Choir, and taught Sunday School. The Methodist Men sponsored Boy Scout Troup 180, and Mr. Bean thoroughly enjoyed the years he spent as a troop leader and district advancement chairman. He was honored for his service to the Scouts when he received the Silver Beaver award and the District Award of Merit.

Mr. Bean was known as a man of strong faith. He was a composer of poetry and spiritual songs, and he cherished the old hymns and the stories behind them. Until recent years, he was an avid vegetable gardener. He had fond memories of camping in the White Mountains of New Hampshire with family and with the Scouts. Since 2003 he had been an active member of the Langdon Place community, where he made many friends and received loving care.

He is survived by two daughters, Natalie R. Kimble and her husband Jim of Enterprise, AL, and Katherine A. Whitehead and her husband Roy of Portland, ME, a son, Christopher A. Bean and his wife Kim of Winchester, VA; one sister, Hazel Lovett of Newtown, PA. In addition, Mr. Bean had eight grandchildren: Jonathan Whitehead of Portland, ME; Katrina Hartshorn of Essex Junction, VT; Keith Whitehouse of Exeter, NH; Christian Whitehouse of Sunapee, NH; Melinda Meyers of Kileen, TX; Timothy Whitehouse of Mainz, Germany; Andrew Bean of Winchester, VA, and Sarah Bean of Alexandria, VA. Mr. Bean is also missed by seven great-grandchildren and several special nieces and nephews.

There will be no calling hours. A memorial service will be held at St. Johns United Methodist Church in Dover on Sat., Aug. 18, 2007 at 10:00am. Burial will be in Hollis, New Hampshire.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to: Scout Campership Fund, c/o Guy Eaton, St. Johns United Methodist Church, 28 Cataract Avenue, Dover, NH 03820.

Arrangements are under the direction of Wiggin-Purdy-McCooey-Dion Funeral Home, 655 Central Ave., Dover, NH. For more information or to sign our on-line guestbook, please go to www.purdyfuneralservice.com