Dean Bacon

Dean Ross Bacon, son of Glen and Beulah (Keffer) Bacon, was born on August 23, 1936, in McPherson, Kansas. He graduated from Central High School in McPherson, KS in 1954.

Dean left McPherson to attend Los Angeles Pacific College (LAPC) for two years, graduating with an Associates degree in 1956. After LAPC, he attended and graduated from Greenville College, Greenville, Illinois in 1958. His life was changed forever, when he met the love of his life, Treva (June) Gill, while at Greenville. On June 27, 1959 their marriage began. This union was blessed with two daughters, Jill Deana, and Glenna Dene. Following his marriage to June, Dean began a teaching and coaching career at Central College. He dedicated 10 fulltime years and 5 part-time years to Central College. During this time, he pursued and completed a Master’s Degree in Business Administration at Kansas State Teachers College of Emporia in 1964. Following his Master’s completion, he continued his career at Associated Christian Colleges of Kansas (ACCK).

With his teaching experience obtained from Central College and ACCK, he started a partnership of a data processing business, Central Computer Business Service, Inc. Dean spent the rest of his working career dedicating his time to serving the community of McPherson. He was a Sunday School Superintendent and acted as the church Treasurer of the Free Methodist Church for 11 years. He also served as treasurer of the Great Plains Loan Conference Board for at least 15 years. He served 20 years on the Board of Trustees of Central College, 8 years on the USD 418 Board of Education, and 4 years as a McPherson County Commissioner. He was a 30 year member of the Light Capital Kiwanis Club and also worked with the United Way along with various other community organizations. One of his favorite groups that he was a member of was the Glory Road Quartet. This quartet performed for 14 years and included Merlin Fields, Dave Joy, and Galen Shields. Dean was the group’s tenor.

After Dean’s passing, the family found a piece of paper he kept by his favorite chair. Dean had written a paragraph about what he thought were his greatest accomplishments. “Glen Bacon my father who modeled what were the important lifestyle lessons for me: 1. Devotion to God 2. Devotion to my family 3. Servitude and service. I have tried to follow in his footsteps.”

After struggling with health issues for several years, Dean went to his heavenly home, on Friday, July 8, 2011. He was 74 years old.

Survivors include: his wife June; two daughters, Jill Piper and husband, Jamie, of McPherson, Glenna Biehler and husband, Ron, of Westminster, Colorado; brother, Elvin Bacon and wife, Donna, of McPherson; sister, Elsie Sheriff and husband, John, of Newton, Kansas; and five grandchildren, Josh and Joel Piper, Brandon, Ryan and Molly Biehler. He is preceded in death by his parents.

The memorial service will be at 10:30 AM, Tuesday, July 12, 2011, at the Free Methodist Church with Rev. Tom Griffith and Rev. Tom Kegin officiating. The family will receive friends on Monday, July 11, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Stockham Family Funeral Home. At the deceased’s request, the body was bequeathed to the University of Kansas School of Medicine. Inurnment will take place in McPherson Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to Central Christian College of Kansas in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 North Chestnut, McPherson, KS 67460. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Dean Bacon please visit our Sympathy Store.