Services for Robert Lawrence “Bob” Bearden, 94, will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Lifeway Fellowship in Killeen, with burial to follow at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery.
Mr. Bearden died Aug. 18, 2017.
He was born nearly 95 years ago in Tulsa, Okla., to Silas P. and Valeria Rathjen Bearden. Bob tragically lost his mother at the age of 7, and his family life afterward was wrought with strife and Depression-era poverty.
The family moved around a lot, resulting in Bob attending numerous elementary schools from California to Texas, finally settling in Dallas where he continued grade school.
In 1937, he enrolled in Adamson High School. He was very agile, and ran the mile for Adamson’s 1939 regional track championship. He also held his own as a Golden Gloves boxer.
In July 1940, Bob joined F Company, 144th Infantry, 36th Infantry Division, Texas National Guard, and was called into federal service in November of that year. He left Adamson for Camp Bowie, Texas, thus ending his high school career prior to graduation.
He joined the U.S. Army paratroops in September 1942, and after completing jump school at Fort Benning, Georgia, he was assigned to H Company, 507th Parachute Infantry. Bob parachuted into Normandy, France as part of the D-Day invasion, June 6, 1944. He was wounded twice and captured with his regimental commander on D- plus 4.
He spent the next eight months as a prisoner of war, spending time as a “guest” of the German Army until he was liberated by Allied forces from Stalag III-C (east of Berlin) on Jan. 31, 1945.
In 2010, over 65 years later, Bob was honored in a ceremony hosted by Maj. Gen. William Grimsley at III Corps Headquarters, Fort Hood, commending Bob with 13 medals in recognition of his military service, including his Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and well-earned Combat Infantry Badge. Details of his military experiences are recorded in his book, “To D-Day and Back,” published in 2007.
After his military discharge in 1945, Bob enrolled in The University of Texas at Austin (without a high school diploma). He was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity, a cheerleader for four years, and was recognized as an outstanding student in 1949 before graduating with a degree in business.
In 1951, Bob married Doris J. Lybrand, and together they raised five children while running three businesses in five states (Bearden Army Stores, Bearden Personal Services and Commercial Printing Co.)
In 1968, Bob started Christian Farms, a Christ-centered drug/alcohol rehabilitation program for men in Bell County, and a few years later, he started Treehouse, a similar program for women in Temple. He served as director for both programs for the next 25 years.
Mr. Bearden died Aug. 18, 2017.
He was born nearly 95 years ago in Tulsa, Okla., to Silas P. and Valeria Rathjen Bearden. Bob tragically lost his mother at the age of 7, and his family life afterward was wrought with strife and Depression-era poverty.
The family moved around a lot, resulting in Bob attending numerous elementary schools from California to Texas, finally settling in Dallas where he continued grade school.
In 1937, he enrolled in Adamson High School. He was very agile, and ran the mile for Adamson’s 1939 regional track championship. He also held his own as a Golden Gloves boxer.
In July 1940, Bob joined F Company, 144th Infantry, 36th Infantry Division, Texas National Guard, and was called into federal service in November of that year. He left Adamson for Camp Bowie, Texas, thus ending his high school career prior to graduation.
He joined the U.S. Army paratroops in September 1942, and after completing jump school at Fort Benning, Georgia, he was assigned to H Company, 507th Parachute Infantry. Bob parachuted into Normandy, France as part of the D-Day invasion, June 6, 1944. He was wounded twice and captured with his regimental commander on D- plus 4.
He spent the next eight months as a prisoner of war, spending time as a “guest” of the German Army until he was liberated by Allied forces from Stalag III-C (east of Berlin) on Jan. 31, 1945.
In 2010, over 65 years later, Bob was honored in a ceremony hosted by Maj. Gen. William Grimsley at III Corps Headquarters, Fort Hood, commending Bob with 13 medals in recognition of his military service, including his Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and well-earned Combat Infantry Badge. Details of his military experiences are recorded in his book, “To D-Day and Back,” published in 2007.
After his military discharge in 1945, Bob enrolled in The University of Texas at Austin (without a high school diploma). He was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity, a cheerleader for four years, and was recognized as an outstanding student in 1949 before graduating with a degree in business.
In 1951, Bob married Doris J. Lybrand, and together they raised five children while running three businesses in five states (Bearden Army Stores, Bearden Personal Services and Commercial Printing Co.)
In 1968, Bob started Christian Farms, a Christ-centered drug/alcohol rehabilitation program for men in Bell County, and a few years later, he started Treehouse, a similar program for women in Temple. He served as director for both programs for the next 25 years.
Services for Robert Lawrence “Bob” Bearden, 94, will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Lifeway Fellowship in Killeen, with burial to follow at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery.
Mr. Bearden died Aug. 18, 2017.
He was born nearly 95 years ago in Tulsa, Okla., to Silas P. and Valeria Rathjen Bearden. Bob tragically lost his mother at the age of 7, and his family life afterward was wrought with strife and Depression-era poverty.
The family moved around a lot, resulting in Bob attending numerous elementary schools from California to Texas, finally settling in Dallas where he continued grade school.
In 1937, he enrolled in Adamson High School. He was very agile, and ran the mile for Adamson’s 1939 regional track championship. He also held his own as a Golden Gloves boxer.
In July 1940, Bob joined F Company, 144th Infantry, 36th Infantry Division, Texas National Guard, and was called into federal service in November of that year. He left Adamson for Camp Bowie, Texas, thus ending his high school career prior to graduation.
He joined the U.S. Army paratroops in September 1942, and after completing jump school at Fort Benning, Georgia, he was assigned to H Company, 507th Parachute Infantry. Bob parachuted into Normandy, France as part of the D-Day invasion, June 6, 1944. He was wounded twice and captured with his regimental commander on D- plus 4.
He spent the next eight months as a prisoner of war, spending time as a “guest” of the German Army until he was liberated by Allied forces from Stalag III-C (east of Berlin) on Jan. 31, 1945.
In 2010, over 65 years later, Bob was honored in a ceremony hosted by Maj. Gen. William Grimsley at III Corps Headquarters, Fort Hood, commending Bob with 13 medals in recognition of his military service, including his Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and well-earned Combat Infantry Badge. Details of his military experiences are recorded in his book, “To D-Day and Back,” published in 2007.
After his military discharge in 1945, Bob enrolled in The University of Texas at Austin (without a high school diploma). He was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity, a cheerleader for four years, and was recognized as an outstanding student in 1949 before graduating with a degree in business.
In 1951, Bob married Doris J. Lybrand, and together they raised five children while running three businesses in five states (Bearden Army Stores, Bearden Personal Services and Commercial Printing Co.)
In 1968, Bob started Christian Farms, a Christ-centered drug/alcohol rehabilitation program for men in Bell County, and a few years later, he started Treehouse, a similar program for women in Temple. He served as director for both programs for the next 25 years.
Mr. Bearden died Aug. 18, 2017.
He was born nearly 95 years ago in Tulsa, Okla., to Silas P. and Valeria Rathjen Bearden. Bob tragically lost his mother at the age of 7, and his family life afterward was wrought with strife and Depression-era poverty.
The family moved around a lot, resulting in Bob attending numerous elementary schools from California to Texas, finally settling in Dallas where he continued grade school.
In 1937, he enrolled in Adamson High School. He was very agile, and ran the mile for Adamson’s 1939 regional track championship. He also held his own as a Golden Gloves boxer.
In July 1940, Bob joined F Company, 144th Infantry, 36th Infantry Division, Texas National Guard, and was called into federal service in November of that year. He left Adamson for Camp Bowie, Texas, thus ending his high school career prior to graduation.
He joined the U.S. Army paratroops in September 1942, and after completing jump school at Fort Benning, Georgia, he was assigned to H Company, 507th Parachute Infantry. Bob parachuted into Normandy, France as part of the D-Day invasion, June 6, 1944. He was wounded twice and captured with his regimental commander on D- plus 4.
He spent the next eight months as a prisoner of war, spending time as a “guest” of the German Army until he was liberated by Allied forces from Stalag III-C (east of Berlin) on Jan. 31, 1945.
In 2010, over 65 years later, Bob was honored in a ceremony hosted by Maj. Gen. William Grimsley at III Corps Headquarters, Fort Hood, commending Bob with 13 medals in recognition of his military service, including his Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and well-earned Combat Infantry Badge. Details of his military experiences are recorded in his book, “To D-Day and Back,” published in 2007.
After his military discharge in 1945, Bob enrolled in The University of Texas at Austin (without a high school diploma). He was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity, a cheerleader for four years, and was recognized as an outstanding student in 1949 before graduating with a degree in business.
In 1951, Bob married Doris J. Lybrand, and together they raised five children while running three businesses in five states (Bearden Army Stores, Bearden Personal Services and Commercial Printing Co.)
In 1968, Bob started Christian Farms, a Christ-centered drug/alcohol rehabilitation program for men in Bell County, and a few years later, he started Treehouse, a similar program for women in Temple. He served as director for both programs for the next 25 years.
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