October 27, 2022, 94, Goldsboro –
Bernard Eugene Dean, 94, passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 27, 2022, in Chesapeake, Virginia.
Visitation with the family will be at Seymour Funeral Home on Friday, November 4th from 1-2 pm. A funeral service will be held directly after at 2 pm in the funeral home chapel immediately followed by burial with military honors at Wayne Memorial Park.
Born on June 28, 1928, B.E. grew up working on the family farm in Colfax, NC, and later graduated from Oak Ridge Military Institute. In June 1946, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served honorably until discharge in 1949. B.E. married Mary Frances Vanhoy on September 3, 1949, and was later called back to serve in the USMC Reserves serving in the Korean War until his honorable discharge in 1953. B.E. and Frances then moved to Kinston, NC where he worked at Stallings Air Base and later at Kinston Wheel Alignment. B.E. owned and operated Dean’s Wheel Alignment in Goldsboro from 1957 until his retirement. During his time in Wayne County, he was a proud Life Member of the local Elks Lodge and enjoyed many an hour at the Goldsboro Wayne Airport where he was a member of the Quiet Birdmen. He spent the last 12 years of his retirement with his grandchildren in Chesapeake enjoying many of their activities, debating politics, and discussing medical cures on the horizon, all of which kept him young at heart.
B.E. was born in Guilford County to the late Robah Franklin Dean and Hattie Elizabeth Bull Dean. B.E. and Frances were married for 60 years until her passing in 2009. He was also preceded in death by sisters, Cleo Neal, Verlee Lowe, Elizabeth Dean, Addie McKaughan, and Avahleen Cain; brothers, Waldo Dean, Willard Dean, and Bobby Dean; and son, Kris Dean.
He is survived by three sons, Eric Dean and wife, Celia of Goldsboro, Jody Dean and wife, Linda of Goldsboro, and Alex Dean and wife, Joy of Chesapeake, VA; six grandchildren, Christy Benson of Grand Prairie, TX, Lisa Taylor of Newport, Westley Dean of Goldsboro, Tanner Dean of Champaign, IL, Manning Dean of Chesapeake, VA, and Parker Dean of Seattle, WA; and six great-grandchildren, Trey and Zachary Benson, Landon and Colin Taylor, and Ella and Kaley Dean.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation made to Madison Avenue Baptist Church, 300 S. Madison Avenue, Goldsboro, NC 27530.
Arrangements are with Seymour Funeral Home. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.seymourfuneralhome.com.
