Kenneth Eugene Beane

U S Air Force Lt. Col. (Ret) Chaplain Kenneth Eugene Beane, 87, of Fayetteville died Wednesday, July 4, 2012 at Universal Health Care of Ramseur. Mr. Beane was born in Chatham County on July 31, 1924 the son of Elijah and Eula (Pike) Beane. A 1941 graduate of Siler City High School, he was employed for a year and a half at Faircloth Aircraft Corporation in Hagerstown, MD and Burlington, NC until he joined the US Army in 1944. Following Gunnery School he flew 25 combat missions in the Army Air Force in the Southern European Theatre of operations as an engineer gunner based in Italy. After service with the Army Air Corps, he received an AB Degree in 1948 from High Point College in High Point, NC and a Master of Divinity Degree in 1951 from Duke University, Durham, NC. He was licensed to preach in The Methodist Church in 1946 at Hay Street Methodist Church in Fayetteville, NC and ordained as an Elder in the Methodist Church on September 30, 1951 at West Market Street Methodist Church in Greensboro, NC. He rejoined the Army Reserve as a chaplain in 1951 and served in that capacity in the Korean War. As a chaplain, he served in England. On December 1, 1972 he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel after 20 years of service. He then served as a civilian Methodist minister until 1995. He became a member of the North Carolina Methodist Conference in October, 1951. He served as a minister in Methodist churches throughout much of the state. He has served as a United States Air Force Chaplain in six foreign countries and at Air Force Bases in many of the states. Chaplain Beane has been awarded the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal; The Air Force Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters; and the Air Force Commendation Medal. Chaplain Beane was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Johnson Beane; sons, Kenneth Beane, Jr., Richard Frank Beane; his parents, Elijah and Eula Pike Beane; sister, Evelyn Thompson; brothers, Paul and Donald Beane. He is survived by sisters, Myrtle B. Stephens and Nancy B. Burke and husband, Carroll; brothers, Dwight Beane and wife, Rachel and Jimmy Beane and wife, Shirley; daughters-in-law, Maureen O'Rourke Beane, Irene Roberts Beane; granddaughters, Melissa B. Chambliss and husband, Trey, Maria Beane, Jennifer Beane, Amanda B. Perez and husband, William; great-granddaughter, Haley Perez; great-grandson, Noah Chambliss.; special friends, Ty and Wendy Barnes, Carolyn and Tom Clark and Tom and Toni Lamm. The family will receive friends Saturday, July 7, 2012 from 2:00-3:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 1101 West Raleigh Street, Siler City, NC. The funeral will be Saturday, July 7, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, Siler City with Rev. Clyde Denny and Rev. Eric Thompson officiating. Burial will follow in Mt. Vernon United Methodist Cemetery, Siler City. Memorial may be made to the First United Methodist Church, PO Box 212, Siler City, NC 27344. Smith & Buckner Funeral Home is assisting the family. Online condolences may be made at www.pughfuneralhome.com.