Thomas H. Bees

Thomas H. Bees, 81, died Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009, in Wichita, Kan., after a lengthy illness.He was born Feb. 25, 1928, in New Castle, Pa., to Richard W. and Margaret Bees.Upon graduation from Union High School, he enlisted in the Navy and maintained aircraft aboard the USS Rendova.He married his sweetheart, Martina Johns, of New Castle in 1949. They resided in Miami, Fla., until 1968, when they moved to Dallas, Texas.They recently moved to Wichita to be near family. In civilian life, Tom began his career as an airline mechanic and then as a flight engineer for Eastern Airlines. He investigated several major airline accidents for the FAA.Before he retired, he had flown virtually everywhere around the globe and was proud of his role delivering food to famine-stricken countries in Africa.Tom spent his final days surrounded by his wife, daughters Julie and Sandy, and two grandchildren.Tom is survived by Martina, his wife of 60 years; daughters, Julie Bees of Wichita (Victor Isakov), Dorothy Erminger (Donald) of Austin, Texas, and Sandra L. Simpson of Tucson, Ariz.; grandchildren, Jacob and Jonathan Simpson, Daniel and David Erminger, and Alina Amstutz; and one great-grandchild.He was preceded in death by two sisters and three brothers. Four brothers and three sisters survive.A celebration of Tom's life will be held in Dallas on Nov. 14. For celebration service time and location, please call Dorothy Erminger at (512) 331-4771.A memorial has been established with Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice, 313 S. Market, Wichita, Kan. 67202. Tributes may be sent to the family via www.dlwichita.comPlease sign the guestbook at www.legacy.com/ncnewsonline/Obituaries.asp.