Cook County, Illinois, Birth Certificates Index, 1871-1922. Name: Loring Runyon Bearse; Birth Date: 6 Nov 1916; Birth Place: La Grange, Cook, Illinois; Gender: Male; Father Name: Theodore Hallett Bearse; Father's Birth Place: Chicago, Illinois; Father's Age: 28; Mother Name: Josephine Reynolds Barnum; Mother's Birth Place: Salamanca, New York; Mother's Age: 28; FHL Film Number: 1308558.
Posted Wednesday, August 22, 2012 12:00 am to bensonnews-sun.com: Aug. 12, 2012. Our father, Loring R. Bearse, 95 years of age, passed away peacefully in his sleep during the early morning of Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012. He was born on Nov. 6, 1916 in LaGrange, Ill. to Theodore H. Bearse and Josephine Barnum Bearse. After graduating from LaGrange Township High School, he attended Purdue University, where he studied Mechanical Engineering and was a member of the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. Upon graduation in 1938, he was Plant Manager at the Bearse Manufacturing Company. While there, he designed textile items, such as bomb covers, for which the company earned the Excellence Award from the U.S. military for their contribution during World War II. In 1941 Dad married Mom, Catherine (Kay) Jackson. During 1946 the family moved to Tucson. In 1948 he began work at Apache Powder Company, from which he retired in 1979. While there he was head of the Mechanical Department. During his life he was an avid bowler, softball player, tennis player, golfer, and artist. His artistic forte was painting portraits of people and animals. He displayed his paintings at various venues around the Benson area. He also designed and painted, with his son, Peter, the various sport figures that adorn the walls of the old BUHS gymnasium. He was also a member and past President of The San Pedro Valley Arts & Historical Society. In 1982 he served as the Grand Marshal of the Fourth of July Festival Parade. Dad was one of the original founders of St. Raphael in the Valley Episcopal Church. He was active in the church for over 40 years. During that time he was lay reader, the treasurer, and organ player.
Dad is preceded in death by his parents, Theodore H. Bearse and Josephine B. Bearse, his sisters, Frances Mehring and Emily Skinner, our mother, Catherine J. Bearse, his grandson, Christopher Bearse, and his niece, Diana Skinner. He is survived by his children, Catherine Abernathy (Andrew), Peter Bearse, and Sarah (Sally) Bearse, six grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, three nieces and four nephews. Dad was a true gentleman and a wonderful father. He was very kind, generous, considerate, respectful, artistic, and had a great sense of humor. We love him very much and he will be missed. A memorial service will be held at the St. Raphael in the Valley Episcopal Church on Highway 80 in Benson, Ariz. on Saturday, Aug. 25, at 3 p.m.
In lieu of flowers we would prefer donations be sent to the Dallas Memorial Hope Fund at P.O. Box 253, Pomerene, AZ 85627 (website: dallasmemorialhopefund.webs.com) or the San Pedro Humane Society/Benson, at 104 E. Harvest Way, Benson, AZ 85602.