Basil Bear

Basil K. Bear, 88, a resident of Fort Wayne and native of Eel River Township, passed away at 8:55 p. m. on Monday, November 5, 2012, at Parkview Hospital Randallia. Mr. Bear was born on December 31, 1923 in Eel River Township, a son of Alpha Sherman and Alta Margurite (Johnston) Bear.e He spent his formative years on the family farm there, and graduated from Huntertown High School in 1942. On July 25, 1953 he was married in Fort Wayne to Phyllis J. Lott.e The couple spent all of their married lives in Fort Wayne, and had lived at their current home in Lincoln Park for the past 40 years.e Employed at General Electric in Fort Wayne for 43 years, he retired as a grinder from there in 1986. He was a member of the Suburban Bethlehem Lutheran Church, west of Fort Wayne, and volunteered with the Anthony Wayne Boy Scouts of America for 39 years, earning the coveted Silver Beaver award. He assisted many boys in completing their Eagle Scout ranks, including both of his grandsons.e He also volunteered with the Limberlost Girl Scouts of America, as well as the Fort Wayne Botanical Conservatory.e An active participant in the Lincoln Park Neighborhood Association, he assisted in the development of Lincoln Park. The surviving relatives include his wife Phyllis, to whom he was married for over 59 years; two daughters Charna L. (Michael) Boren of LaGrange and Alicia A. (Douglas) Hill of Ossian; his son Dr. Thomas E. (Susan) Bear of Evansville; five grandchildren Alanna M. Hill, Austin K. (Alishea) Hill, Austin T. Bear, Tyler K. Bear, and Lauren M. Bear; and a great-grandson Ethan M. Hill. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters Marjorie A. Bear in 1969 and Gretchen K. Yoder in 1999. Funeral services will be held at 11 a. m. Friday, November 9, 2012, in the Suburban Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 6318 W. California Rd., with Pastor William Mueller, officiating. The family will receive friends at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco on Thursday from 2-4 and from 6-8 p. m., or at the church one hour prior to the service Friday morning. Interment will be in the Greenlawn Memorial Park, Fort Wayne. For those who wish, memorials may be directed to Suburban Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 6318 W. California Rd., Fort Wayne, INe 46818; or Anthony Wayne Boy Scouts of America, 8315 W. Jefferson Blvd., Fort Wayne, INe 46804 ******************************