Leonard A. Bean

Leonard A. Bean, 95 years young, entered into eternal rest on Saturday, June 3, 2017, and was reunited with the love of his life, Mildred.

He was born on May 7, 1922, in Fairmont, W.Va., the son of Leonard and Beulah Miller Bean.

The family moved to Ohio when Leonard was a child and he spent his youth in Mentor. After graduating from high school, Leonard answered his nation’s call to duty and enlisted into the U.S. Army during World War II.

He served as a member of the First Infantry Division, “The Big Red One”, serving in the European Theater of Operations. He stood guard over the major Nazi war criminals during the infamous trials at Nuremburg, Germany, and was face-to-face with Hermann Goering, Hitler’s appointed deputy and heir, and the Head of the Luftwaffe, as he stood in the courtroom. He often described how the Nazi Number Two “cheated the hangman” by taking his own life on the eve of his scheduled execution.

When Leonard returned stateside, he met the love of his life. He married Mildred Lewis on April 19, 1952, and they spent the best years of their lives together until her passing on Dec. 28, 2005.

Leonard retired after 44 years at Republic Steel, where he worked in the Hot Strip Mill. He loved sports and was an avid fan of the Cleveland Indians and the Ohio State University Buckeyes. He enjoyed tennis, camping and gardening. Well known for his spirit and love of the holidays, he dressed up each Halloween for the neighborhood children and transformed their home each year at Christmas with displays of lights and trains and ornaments for everyone to enjoy.

He was a loyal member of the Masonic Temple for over 50 years, and was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Niles.

He leaves behind a legacy of tradition and friendship, and good memories of a long and happy life.

He will be missed by his many family and friends, and was preceded in death by his wife Mildred, his parents two sisters and his parents-in-law.

Funeral services will be held 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 13, 2017, at the Holloway-Williams Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 611 Robbins Ave., Niles. Friends may call from 5:30 p.m. until time of service.

Burial will be in Niles City Cemetery.

To view this obit and send condolences to Leonard’s family visit www.hollowaywilliamsfuneralhome.com.

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