Bob Beardon

Bob Beardon was born December 24, 1930, in Iraan, Texas, the son of Owen T. Bearden and Bertha Sanders Bearden. On February 4, 1956, he was married to Peggy Thomas of the Redland community, east of Idabel, Oklahoma. He was preceded in death by his parents, by a brother, Eugene T. Bearden and wife Gene, and in 2002, by Peggy Thomas Bearden, his wife of 46 years. Bob is survived by two daughters and a son, Elaine (and John) Wooddell of Springfield, Missouri; Pat Bearden of Little Rock, Arkansas; and Joe (and Kim) Bearden of Fayetteville, Arkansas; and by six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Katherine Rogers of Tulsa, Oklahoma, brother Henry Bates of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, and brother Jim Bates of Florida. Bob graduated from Broken Bow High School in 1949, then entered the U.S. Air Force, where he served as a pilot flying B-25s near the end of the Korean War. He graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1959 with a degree in geology. He worked in the oil and gas industry, first in the oil fields of west Texas, then in oil and gas exploration for Dierks Lumber Company and Weyerhaeuser Company. He was an active member of numerous petroleum and geological professional societies. He was a Master Mason in the Broken Bow Masonic Lodge 441. He and Peggy were long-time members of the Richard Street and Airport Road Church of Christ in Hot Springs. Visitation will be held at Gross Funeral Home in Hot Springs on Thursday, April 18, at 6 to 8 p.m. Graveside services will follow on Saturday, April 20, at 11 p.m. at the Redland Oklahoma Cemetery, where he will rest beside his beloved wife, Peggy. Guest register at www.grossfuneralhome.com.