Larry B. Beans

"Together Again" Larry B. Beans, age 87 formerly of Mentor, OH, passed away December 21, 2023 at Maple Ridge Senior Living in Willoughby, OH. He was born on May 18, 1936 in Chester County, PA. He graduated from West Chester (PA) High School in 1954. He then enlisted and served in the U.S. Air Force for the next four years, including an intensive 7 month Chinese language course at Yale University, followed by an 18 month duty tour on the Japanese Island of Okinawa. He attended and graduated from Penn State University, in 1962, with a BS degree in Forest Management. He was then employed by Caterpillar, Inc., Peoria, IL, where he completed field sales administrative assignments in Mississippi and then in Missouri. He and his family transferred to the former Caterpillar Lift Truck operation in Mentor in 1974 where he worked the remainder of his 30-year career in various product development, marketing and sales positions. Upon retirement from Caterpillar in 1992, he was employed by Taylor Machine Works Inc., in Louisville, Mississippi as Director of Sales for Europe, Australia and Asia. He spent the next eight years marketing internationally, Taylors large lift trucks and container handlers, visiting a total of 23 different countries around the world before his final retirement in 2000. Mr. Beans had been a member of St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Mentor. He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. In retirement, he nurtured the skills to build museum quality wood sailing ship models and also enjoyed model trains, reading, gardening and exercise walking. Survivors include his daughter Janice (Tom) Despenes of Rome, OH; brother, Bruce (Kathy) of Norfolk, MA; Sister-in-Law, Bea of PA; five beloved grandchildren, Tom (Sue), Dan (Kathi) and Chris (Kayla) Despenes and David (Erin) and Sarah Beans and ten great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Irene, whom he married on Sept. 3, 1960 in West Chester, PA, his son David and his brother, Ken. A private family graveside service will be held at a later date in Mentor Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Hospice of the Western Reserve, P.O. Box 72101, Cleveland 44192; donate online at www.hospicewr.org/ Arrangements entrusted to the Brunner Sanden Deitrick Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Mentor, OH. Offer condolences at www.brunners.com.

Larry B. Beans

May 18, 1936 - December 21, 2023