Carroll Earl Besing

Carroll E. Besing was born May 23, 1932, in Evansville, IN. He graduated from Evansville Central High School and enlisted in the United States Air Force (USAF), graduating basic training at Lackland AFB, TX in 1951. He was commissioned as a 2Lt in the USAF on December 11, 1953, and a short while later married Marcella O'Laughlin on December 19, 1953. He was assigned as a communications officer traveling with his family to Albuquerque, NM; Winnipeg, Canada; Richards Gebauer AFB, MO; Rosas Radar Station, Spain; and Keesler AFB, MS, where he earned his B.S. in mathematics from the University of Southern Mississippi. Carroll separated from active duty and joined the reserves, settling in Peoria, IL in 1967.
After 18 military moves in 18 years, Carroll put down strong roots with his family in Peoria, raising two daughters and a son who graduated from Bergan and Richwoods high schools. He worked full-time for Caterpillar Inc. for thirty years while also serving as a USAF advisor to the Civil Air Patrol in Peoria until garnering enough reserve time to earn a military retirement 1992. In 1971, Carroll earned his MBA from Bradley University, studying at night, fully funded by both the Korean War GI Bill and Caterpillar scholarships. After retiring from Caterpillar in 1997, Carroll volunteered avidly with Heart of Illinois Harvest food rescue service, the Knights of Columbus, and St. Vincent de Paul Catholic parish while also maintaining active memberships in the Military Officers Association of America, Reserve Officers Association, and the American Legion. He gave back to the community where he and his family settled while remaining committed to service to our nation, always taking time to participate in events with Air Force Junior ROTC at Peoria High and, later, Limestone High School. Carroll loved his country and his family. In 1986, he was present when his daughter, Joan, earned her Ph.D. in Audiology from Louisiana State University, and in 2006, he had the distinct privilege of commissioning his youngest grandson into the USAF as a 2Lt.
Carroll is survived by his daughters Joan Besing of Maplewood, NJ, Patricia (Besing) Campion of Wyoming, IL, and son Michael Besing, in addition to three grandsons and three granddaughters, and eight great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by Marcella, his wife of 55 years in 2010, along with his two brothers, Warren Besing of Olney, IL, and Wayne Besing of Evansville, IN.
A funeral mass will be held for Carroll on Friday, April 12 at 12:30 pm at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. Visitation will be an hour prior. Father Stephen Willard will officiate the service. Burial with military honors will follow at Resurrection Cemetery in Peoria, Illinois.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Carroll's memory to Heart of Illinois Harvest or St Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. Online tributes and condolences may be made at www.cumerfordclary.com.