Buel Dee Bearden

Buel "Dee" Bearden, 95, of Anderson, passed away August 20, 2016 at the Providence Nursing Home. He was born on August 17, 1921 in Harrison, Arkansas and resided most of his life in Anderson. Dee graduated from Harrison High School, home of the Goblins, where he played football and basketball. He graduated from Purdue with a Bachelor's Degree and Ball State University with his Master's Degree in education. He served his country in the Army during WWII in the Pacific Theatre as a member of the 81st Infantry Division, known as the WIildcats, who took the island Palau at the Battle of Pelilu in 1944. He retired in 1980 as a teacher and principal for Anderson Community Schools and Anderson University after 35 years. He took his family to the island of Yap in the South Pacific for two years in 1964 to educate Yapese children. He also taught in the Grand Cayman Islands. He was a specialist in racial reconciliation during the 1960s and 1970s at Hazelwood Elementary and Shadeland Elementary where he served as principal. He was a member of First Church of the Nazarene for 62 years where he served as Sunday School Superintendent and teacher, Director of NYPS, board member, and led several Work and Witness Missions to the Carribean, South America and Southwest United States. He was also a member of the Gideons. He loved ham radio, camping, biking, swimming, and counting alligators in the Everglades. Dee is survived by his wife, Marjorie (Cooper) Bearden; son, Stephen (Susan) Bearden; daughter-in-law, Debbie Bearden; grandchildren, Jeremy Bearden, Noel (Eric) Whetsel, Heather (Brandon) Kahler, April (Scott) Sandvig; great-grandchildren, Ainsley Kahler, Adelaide Kahler, Elizabeth Whetsel, Ocean Sandvig; and several nieces and nephews He was preceded in death by his mother, Dicie (Raines) Bearden, father, Thomas Lee Bearden, son, David Bearden, siblings, Bessie Grantham, Fairy Reynolds, Thelda Matthews, Eura Baker, Thomas Bearden; and great-granddaughter, Audrey Mae Kahler. Visitation will be held Tuesday, August 23, 2016, 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm at Robert D. Loose Funeral Homes & Crematory, 200 West 53rd St., Anderson, IN. Services will be Wednesday, August 24, 2016, 2:00 pm at First Church of the Nazarene with Rev. Gary Cable officiating. Burial will take place in the East Maplewood Cemetery, with military rites. Memorial contributions may be made to the Missions Outreach at First Church of the Nazarene 2300 Jackson Street Anderson, IN 46016. www.loosecares.com.

Buel Dee Bearden

August 17, 1921 - August 20, 2016