Ben Franklin Bearden was born January 26, 1921, in Wynnewood, Oklahoma, to Monroe and Laura James Bearden, and passed from this life Friday, April 1, 2005, in St. Anthony's Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri, at the age of eighty-four.
Ben met Ruby Pearson, his wife, while in the Sulphur hospital recovering from a leg wound. They were united in marriage May 2, 1924, in Sulphur, Oklahoma. Linda Bernice was born in Big Spring, Texas, March 5, 1943, before Ben was shipped overseas. He was in World War II in Europe for one and a half years. In 1947, Judy Nanette was born in Wynnewood, Oklahoma and Ben began working for Rocket Oil Company in Ratliff City, Oklahoma. In 1950, the family moved to Comanche, Oklahoma, and Ben became field foreman. He was promoted to superintendent in September of 1986, over all Rocket leases in Comanche and Ratlif City. He retired in 1989, after forty-two years with Rocket.
Ben was a deacon in the Praise Assembly of God Church in Comanche, and a member of the Board of Education for Comanche schools. He was an avid hunter and gardener.
In 1956, Ben and Ruby began caring for Tommy Lester with Ben becoming Papa and Ruby becoming Mama and Tommy became part of the family.
Once grandchildren arrived, Ben and Ruby enjoyed traveling to visit them. The road to Missouri to see Rober N. Ward IV and Benjamin D. Ward was traveled often. The arrival of Laura O. hales and Jonathan David Hales meant travel to California, Texas, Florida and Arizona
In 1985, Ben and Ruby built their dream house and it became a homestead for the whole family. Comanche meant go carts, trampoline, kittens and Mama's good cooking.
In May 2001, Ruby passed away and Ben joined her on April 1, 2005.
Survivors include: his daughters - Linda Northcutt of St. Louis, MO, and Judy Hales of Flagstaff, AZ; his grandchildren; and one brother, Charles.
Funeral services for Mr. Bearden were at 11:00 AM, Saturday, April 9, 2005, at Praise Assembly of God Church in Comanche, Oklahoma, with Rev. W.W. Harkins officiatnig. Burial was in the Hennepin Cemetery in Hennepin, Oklahoma under the direction of Dudley Funeral Home of Comanche.